.C19 


Declaration 
and 

Address 


Thomas  Campbell 


CENTENNIAL 
EDITION 


NOTE 

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before  the  press  was  stopped  to  correct  the  fol- 
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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arcliive 
in  2014 


https://arcliive.org/details/declarationaddreOOcamp 


Centenntdf  (Sbitton 


CenfenntAf  QBureau 


m 


This  edition  follows  the  original, 
page  for  page,  line  for  line,  letter^for 
letter.  Even  the  type  face  dupli- 
cates that  of  a  hundred  years  ago 
with  remarkable  exactnecs. 


1908 

Record  Publishing  Company 
coraopolis  pa. 


Thomas  Campbell,  the  author  of  this  pamphlet,  did  not  come 
suddenly  or  unnaturally  to  the  place  that  must  be  allowed  him  in  the 
history  of  the  nineteenth  century;  nor  was  it  a  painless  process.  He 
was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  February  1st,  1763,  of  Scotch 
ancestry  of  course.  Though  his  father  had  renounced  Romanism 
for  the  Church  of  England  he  long  forbade  his  eldest  son  to  become 
a  minister  of  the  Anti-Burgher  Seceder  Presbyterians.  His  training 
included  complete  courses  in  Glasgow  University  and  Divinity  Hall. 
After  his  probation  he  was  nine  years  minister  at  Ahorey. 

More  and  more  his  heart  cried  out  against  divisions  in  the  family 
of  God.  In  1 804  at  the  Synod  in  Belfast  and  in  1 805  at  the  joint 
meeting  in  Lurgan  he  led  the  movement  for  uniting  the  two  bodies 
of  Seceders.  In  1  806  he  was  sent  to  the  General  Synod  in  Glas- 
gow to  plead  the  same  cause.    The  reunion  wais  effected  in  1 820. 

In  1 80  7  he  removed  to  America  and  began  preaching  at  once 
in  Western  Pennsylvania,  then  a  sparsely  settled  region  of  the 
frontier.  It  is  impossible  for  those  living  in  these  happier  times  to 
realize  the  bitterness  of  the  sectarian  strife  which  he  found,  or  the 
spiritual  destitution,  moral  decay  and  infidel  arrogance  that  had  grown 
out  of  this  fresh  crucifixion  of  the  Christ. 

The  vigor,  originality,  scripturalness  and  brotherliness  of  his 
preaching  drew  many  hearers.  New  friends  constantly  vied  with 
the  steadfast  affection  of  those  who  had  known  him  in  Ireland. 
Suddenly,  to  his  amazement,  the  Presbytery  of  Chartiers  censured 
him  for  admitting  other  Presbyterians  than  Seceders  to  a  conununion 
service  held  for  scattered  families  on  the  Allegheny  River  above 
Pittsburgh.  On  appeal  the  Synod  removed  the  censure  but  charged 
him  to  beware  of  further  offense.  Under  persistent  persecution  he 
withdrew  from  the  Synod's  jurisdiction  and  continued  to  preach 
independently  until  the  events  herein  set  forth. 

He  brought  to  the  supreme  task  of  his  life — the  writing  of  this 
document — incorruptible  faith,  unconquerable  hope  and  inexhaustible 
iove;  the  fulness  of  leeuming,  the  poise  of  reflection  and  the  ripeness 
of  experience.  With  entire  and  unconscious  effacement  of  self  he 
sought  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the  happiness  of  mankbd. 


In  the  United  States,  Canada,  England,  Australasia,  and  thae 
various  mission  fields  there  are  in  1 908  a  million  and  a  third  persons 
organized  into  independent  churches  of  Christ  pursuant,  in  the  mainri 
to  the  call  of  this  address.  Their  missionary  offerings  last  yeasr 
amounted  to  over  a  million  dollars.  Five  thousand  preachers  are  im 
active  service  and  a  thousand  young  men  are  in  schools  and  colleges; 
preparing  for  the  ministry.  A  four  years'  Centennial  Campaign  for 
betterment  in  all  phases  of  individual,  local  and  general  Christian  lifer 
and  service  is  being  w^aged.  It  will  culminate  in  a  great  conventiocs 
at  Pittsburgh  in  1 909. 

Though  Barton  W.  Stone  and  others  had  taken  the  same  posi- 
tion earlier,  and  though  a  score  of  years  elapsed  before  the  amalgama- 
tion of  these  movements  and  their  separation  from  former  alliances^ 
September  7,  1 809,  is  universally  accepted  as  bearing  the  same- 
relation  to  the  people  now  knov^Ti  as  Disciples  of  Christ,, 
Christians  or  Churches  of  Christ,  that  July  4,  1  776,  holds  to  the- 
United  States  of  America. 

Thomas  Campbell  not  only  discovered  the  necessity  and  the- 
basis  of  Christian  union  but  he  possessed  the  spirit  of  it.  In  the 
conviction  that  he  was  only  a  hundred  years  ahead  of  his  age  his 
message  is  sent  forth  anew.  May  He  who  is  the  Truth  again  addi 
His  blessing. 


DECLARATION 

AND 


ADDRESS 

OF  THE 

CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 

OF 

WASHINGTON. 


WASHINGTON,  (Pa.) 


Printed  by  BROWN  SAMPLE, 

AT  THE  OFFICE  OF  "THE  REPORTER.** 
I  809. 


AT  a  meeting  held  at  Buffaloe,  August  17, 
1809,  consisting  of  persons  of  different  religious 
denominations;  most  of  them  in  an  unsettled  state 
as  to  a  fixed  gospel  ministry;  it  was  unanimously 
agreed,  upon  the  considerations,  and  for  the  pur- 
poses herein  after  declared,  to  form  themselves 
into  a  religious  association,  designated  as  above — 
which  they  accordingly  did,  and  appointed  twenty- 
one  of  their  number  to  meet  and  confer  together; 
and,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Thomas  Camp- 
bell, minister  of  the  gospel,  to  determine  upon  the 
proper  means  to  carry  into  effect  the  important 
ends  of  their  association  :  the  result  of  which 
conference  was  the  following  declaration  and 
address,  agreed  upon  and  ordered  to  be  printed 
at  the  expence  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  society, 
September  7,  1809. 


DECLARATION,  &c. 


JH  ROM  the  series  of  events  which  have  taken  place  in  the 
churches  for  many  years  past,  especially  in  this  western  country, 
as  well  as  from  what  we  know  in  general  of  the  present  state  of 
things  in  the  christian  world  ;  we  are  persuaded  that  it  is  high  time 
for  us  not  only  to  think,  but  also  to  act,  for  ourselves  ;  to  see  with 
our  own  eyes,  and  to  take  all  our  measures  directly  and  immedi- 
ately from  the  Divine  Standard  :  to  this  alone  we  feel  ourselves 
divinely  bound  to  be  conformed  ;  as  by  this  alone  we  must  be  judg- 
ed. We  are  also  persuaded  that  as  no  man  can  be  judged  for  his 
brother,  so  no  man  can  judge  for  his  brother  :  but  that  every  man 
must  be  allowed  to  judge  for  himself,  as  every  man  must  bear  his 
own  judgment  ; — must  give  an  account  of  himself  to  God — We  are 
also  of  opinion  that  as  the  divine  word  is  equally  binding  upon  all 
so  all  lie  under  an  equal  obligation  to  be  bound  by  it,  and  it  alone  ; 
and  not  by  any  human  interpetation  of  it  and  that  therefore  no 
man  has  a  right  to  judge  his  brother,  except  in  so  far  as  he  mani- 
festly violates  the  express  letter  of  the  law.  That  every  such 
judgment  is  an  express  violation  of  the  law  of  Christ,  a  daring 
usurpation  of  his  throne,  and  a  gross  intrusion  upon  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  his  subjects.  We  are  therefore  of  opinion  that  we 
should  beware  of  such  things  ;  that  we  should  keep  at  the  utmost 
distance  from  every  thing  of  this  nature  ;  and,  that  knowing  the 
judgment  of  God  against  them  that  commit  such  things  ;  we  should 
neither  do  the  same  ourselves,  nor  have  pleasure  in  them  that  do 
them.  Moreover,  being  well  aware  from  sad  experience,  of  they 
heinous  nature,  and  pernicious  tendency  of  religious  controversy 
among  christians  ;  tired  and  sick  of  the  bitter  jarrings  and  janglings 
of  a  party  spirit,  we  would  desire  to  be  at  rest ;  and,  were  it  possi- 
ble, we  would  also  desire  to  adopt  and  recommend  such  measures 
as  would  give  rest  to  our  brethren  throughout  all  the  churches  ; — 
as  would  restore  unity,  peace,  and  purity,  to  the  whole  church  of 
God.  This  desirable  rest,  however,  we  utterly  despair  either  to 
find  for  ourselves,  or  to  be  able  to  recommend  to  our  brethren,  by 
continuing  amidst  the  diversity  and  rancour  of  party  contensions, 
the  veering  uncertainty  and  clashings  of  human  opinions  :  nor 
indeed,  can  we  reasonably  expect  to  find  it  any  where,  but  in 
Christ  and  his  simple  word  ;  which  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to- 
day, and  forever.  Our  desire,  therefore,  for  ourselves  and  our 
brethren  would  be,  that  rejecting  haman  opinions  and  the  inven- 


4 


tions  of  men,  as  of  any  authorijy,  or  as  having  any  place  in  the 
church  of  God,  we  might  forever  cease  from  farther  contentions 
about  such  things  ;  returning  to,  and  holding  fast  by  the  original 
standard  ;  taking  the  divine  word  alone  for  our  rule  ;  The  Holy 
Spirit  for  our  teacher  and  guide,  to  lead  us  into  all  truth  ;  and 
Christ  alone  as  exhibited  in  the  word,  for  our  salvation  that,  by  so 
doing,  we  may  be  at  peace  among  ourselves,  follow  peace  with  all 
men,  and  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord. — 
Impressed  with  these  sentiments,  we  have  resolved  as  follows  : 

I.  That  we  form  ourselves  into  a  religious  association  under  the 
denomination  of  the  Christian  Association  of  Washington — for  the 
sole  purpose  of  promoting  simple  evangelical  Christianity,  free 
from  all  mixture  of  human  opinions  and  inventions  of  men. 

II.  That  each  member,  according  to  ability,  cheerfully  and 
liberally  subscribe  a  certain  specified  sum,  to  be  paid  half  yearly, 
for  the  purpose  ,  of  raising  a  fund  to  support  a  pure  Gospel  Ministry, 
that  shall  reduce  to  practice  that  whole  form  of  doctrine,  worship, 
discipline,  and  government,  expressly  revealed  and  enjoined  in  the 
word  of  God.  And  also  for  supplying  the  poor  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

III.  That  this  society  consider  it  a  duty,  and  shall  use  all  proper 
means  in  its  power,  to  encourage  the  formation  of  similar  associ- 
ations; and  shall  for  this  purpose  hold  itself  Ln  readiness,  upon 
application,  to  correspond  with,  and  render  all  possible  assistance 
to,  such  as  may  desire  to  associate  for  the  same  desirable  and  im- 
portant purposes. 

IV.  That  this  Society  by  no  means  considers  itself  a  church,  nor 
does  at  all  assume  to  itself  the  powers  peculiar  to  such  a  society; 
nor  do  the  members,  as  such,  consider  themselves  as  standing  con- 
nected in  that  relation;  nor  as  at  all  associated  for  the  peculiar 
purposes  of  church  association; — but  merely  as  voluntary  advo- 
cates for  church  reformation;  and,  as  possessing  the  powers  com- 
mon to  all  individuals,  who  may  please  to  associate  in  a  peaceable 
and  orderly  manner,  for  any  lawful  purpose:  namely,  the  diposal 
of  their  time,  counsel  and  property,  as  they  may  see  cause. 

>/  V.  That  this  society,  formed  for  the  sole  purpose  of  promoting 
simple  evangelical  Christianity,  shall,  to  the  utmost  of  its  power, 
countenance  and  support  such  ministers,  and  such  only,  as  exhibit 
a  manifest  conformity  to  the  original  standard  Ln  conversation  and 
doctrine,  in  zeal  and  diligence; — only  such  as  reduce  to  practice 
that  simple  original  form  of  Christianity,  expressly  exhibited  upon 
the  sacred  page;  without  attempting  to  inculcate  anything  of  hu- 
man authority,  of  private  opinion,  or  inventions  of  men,  as  having 
any  place  in  the  constitution,  faith,  or  worship,  of  the  christian 
church — or,  any  thing,  as  matter  of  christian  faith,  or  duty,  for 
which  there  can  not  be  expressly  produced  a  thus  saith  the  Lord 
either  in  express  terms,  or  by  approved  precedent. 

VI.  That  a  standing  committee  of  twenty-one  members  of  unex- 
ceptionable moral  character,  inclusive  of  the    sectetary  and  treasu- 


5 


jTcr,  be  chosen  annually  to  superintend  the  interests,  and  transact 
tthc  business,  of  the  society.  And  that  said  committee  be  invested 
with  full  powers  to  act  and  do,  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  their 
constituens,  whatever  the  society  had  previously  determined,  for 
tthe  purpote  of  carrying  into  effect  the  entire  object  of  its  institu- 
ttion — and  that  in  case  of  any  emergency,  unprovided  for  in  the 
orxisting  determinations  of  the  society,  said  committee  be  empow- 
ered to  call  a  pro  re  nota  meeting  for  that  purpose. 

VII.  That  this  society  meet  at  least  twice  a  year,  viz.  On  the  first 
'Thursday  of  May  and  of  November,  and  that  the  collectors  ap- 
pointed to  receive  the  half-yearly  quotas  of  the  promised  subscrip- 
jtions,  be  in  readiness,  at  or  before  each  meeting,  to  make  their  re- 
nurns  to  the  treasurer,  that  he  may  be  able  to  report  upon  the  state 
<of  the  funds.  Tne  next  meeting  to  be  held  at  Washington  on  the  first 
'Thursday  of  November  next. 

VIII.  That  each  meeting  of  the  society  be  opened  with  a  sermon, 
tthe  constitution  and  address  read,  and  a  collection  lifted  for  the 
Ibenefit  of  the  society — and  that  all  communications  of  a  public 
mature  be  laid  before  the  society  at  its  half-yearly  meetings. 

IX.  That  this  society,  relying  upon  the  all-sufficiency  of  the 
Church's  Head  ;  and,  through  His  grace,  looking  with  an  eye  of 
tconfidence  to  the  generous  liberality  of  the  sincere  friends  of  genu- 
ine Christianity  ;  holds  itself  engaged  to  afford  a  competent  support 
tto  such  ministers,  as  the  Lord  may  graciously  dispose  to  assist,  at 
tthe  request,  and  by  invitation,  of  the  society,  in  promoting  a  pure 
»evangelical  reformation,  by  the  simple  preaching  of  the  everlast- 
Sng  gospel,  and  the  administration  of  its  ordinances  in  an  exact, 
fconformity  to  the  Divine  Standard  as  aforesaid — and,  that  therefore, 
whatever  the  fiiends  of  the  institution  shall  please  to  contribute 
Koward  the  support  of  ministers  in  connexion  with  this  society 
who  may  be  sent  forth  to  preach  at  considerable  distances,  the  same 
Eihall  be  gratefiilly  received  and  acknowledged  as  a  donation  to  its 
fSinds. 


ADDRESS,  &c. 


To  all  that  love  our  Lord  yesus  Christy  in  sincerity ^ 
throughout  all  the  Churches^  the  following  Ad- 
dress is  most  respectfully  sub?nitted. 

Dearly  Beloved  Brethren, 

THAT  it  is  the  grand  design  and  native  tendency,  of  our  holly 
religion,  to  reconcile  and  unite  man  to  God,  and  to  each  other,  in. 
truth  and  love,  to  the  glory  of  God;  and  their  own  present  and  eter- 
nal good,  will  not,  we  presume,  be  denied,  by  any  of  the  genuine 
subjects  of  Christianity.  The  nativity  of  its  Dtvine  Author  was  an- 
nounced from  heaven,  by  an  host  of  angels,  with  high  acclamations 
of  "glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and,  on  earth,  peace  and  good 
will  toward  men."  The  whole  tenor  of  that  divine  book  which 
contains  its  institutes,  in  all  its  gracious  declarations,  precepts, 
ordinances,  and  holy  examples,  most  expressly  and  powerfully 
inculcates  this.  In  so  far,  then,  as  this  holy  unilV  and  unanimity 
in  faith  and  love  is  attained  ;  just  in  the  same  degree,  is  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  happiness  of  man,  promoted  and  secured.  Im- 
pressed with  those  sentiments,  and  at  the  same  time  greviously 
affected  with  those  sad  divisions  which  have  so  awfully  interfered 
with  the  benign  and  gracious  intention  of  our  holy  religion,  by  ex- 
citing its  professed  subjects  to  bite  and  devour  one  another ;  we 
cannot  suppose  ourselves  justifiable,  in  withholding  the  mite  of  our 
sincere  and  humble  endeavours,  to  heal  and  remove  them. 
J  What  awfiil  and  distressing  effects  have  those  sad  divisions  pro- 
duced! what  adversions,  what  reproaches,  what  backbitings,  what 
evil  surmisings,  what  angry  contentions,  what  enmities,  what  ex- 
communications, and  even  persecutions!  !  !  And  indeed,  this  must 
in  some  measure,  continue  to  be  the  case  so  long  as  those  schisms; 
exist,  for,  said  the  Apostle,  where  envying  and  strife  is,  there  is 
confusion  and  every  evil  work.  What  dreary  effects  of  these  ac- 
cursed divisions  are  to  be  seen,  even  in  this  highly  favored  country, 
where  the  sword  of  the  civil  magestrate  has  not  as  yet  learned  to 
serve  at  the  altar.  Have  we  not  seen  congregations  broken  to 
pieces,  neighborhoods  of  professing  christians  first  thrown  into 
confusion  by  party  contentions,  and,  in  the  end,  entirely  deprived 
of  gospel  ordinances  ;  while  in  the  meantime,  large  settlements, 
and  tracts  of  country,  remain  to  this  day  entirely  destitute  of  a 
gospel  ministry  ;  many  of  them  in  little  better  than  a  state  of  hea- 
thenism :  the  churches  being  either  so  weakened  with  divisions, 
that  they  cannot  send  them  ministers  ;  or,  the  people  so  divided 
among  themselves,  that  they  will  not  receive  them.  Severals  at 
the  same  time  who  live  at  the  door  of  a  preached  gospel,  dare  not 
in  conscience  go  to  hear  it,  and,  of  course,  enjoy  little  more  ad- 


vantage  in  that  respect,  than  if  living  in  the  midst  of  heathens — 
How  seldom  do  many  in  those  circumstances  enjoy  the  dispensa- 
tion of  the  Lord's  Supper,  that  great  ordinance  of  unity  and  love. 
How  sadly,  also,  does  this  broken  and  confused  state  of  things 
interfere  with  that  spiritual  intercourse  amongst  christians,  one 
with  another,  which  is  so  essential  to  their  edification  and  comfort, 
in  the  midst  of  a  present  evil  world  ; — so  divided  in  sentiment,  and, 
of  course,  living  at  such  distances,  that  but  few  of  the  same  opinion 
or  party,  can  conveniently  and  frequently  assemble  for  religious 
purposes  ;  or  enjoy  a  due  frequency  of  ministerial  attentions.  And 
even  where  things  are  in  a  better  state  with  respect  to  settled 
churches,  how  is  the  tone  of  discipline  relaxed  under  the  influence 
of  a  party  spirit  ;  many  being  afraid  to '  exercise  it  with  due  strict- 
ness, lest  their  people  should  leave  them,  and  under  the  cloak  of 
some  spurious  pretence,  find  refuge  in  the  bosom  of  another  party  ; 
while,  lamentable  to  be  told,  so  corrupt  is  the  church,  with  those 
accursed  divisions,  that  there  are  but  few  so  base,  as  not  to  find 
admission  into  some  professing  party  or  other.  Thus,  in  a  great 
measure,'  is  that  scriptural  purity  of  communion  banished  from 
the  church  of  God  ;  upon  the  due  preservation  of  which,  much  of 
her  comfort,  glory,  and  usefiilness  depends.  To  complete  the 
dread  result  of  our  woefiil  divisions,  one  evil  yet  remains,  of  a  very 
awful  nature  :  the  divine  displeasure  justly  provoked  with  this*  sad 
perversion  of  the  gospel  of  peace,  the  Lord  withholds  his  gracious 
influential  presence  from  his  ordinances  ;  and  not  unfrequently 
gives  up  the  contentious  authors  and  abettors  of  religious  discord 
to  fall  into  grievous  scandals  ;  or  visits  them  with  judgments,  as  he 
did  the  house  of  Eli.  Thus  while  professing  christians  bite  and 
devour  one  another  they  are  consumed  one  of  another,  or  fall  a  prey 
to  the  righteous  judgment  of  God  :  Meantime  the  truely  religious 
of  all  parties  are  grieved,  the  weak  stumbled,  the  graceless  and 
profane  hardened,  the  mouths  of  infidels  opened  to  blaspheme 
religion  ;  and  thus  the  only  thing  under  heaven,  devinely  efficacious 
to  promote  and  secure  the  present  spiritual  and  eternal  good  of 
man  even  the  gospel  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  is  reduced  to  contempt  ; 
while  multitudes  deprived  of  the  gospel  ministry,  as  has  been  observ- 
ed, fall  an  easy  pray  to  seducers,  and  so  become  the  dupes  of  almost 
unheard  of  delusions.  Are  not  such  the  visible  effects  of  our  sad 
divisions,  even  in  this  otherwise  happy  country — Say,  dear  breth- 
ren, are  not  these  things  so.  Is  it  not  then  your  incumbent  duty  to 
endeavour,  by  all  spiritual  means,  to  have  those  evils  remedied. 
Who  will  say,  that  it  is  not?  And  does  it  not  peculiarly  belong  to 
you,  who  occupy  the  place  of  gospel  ministers,  to  be  leaders  in  this 
laudable  undertaking.  Much  depends  upon  your  hearty  concurrence 
and  zealous  endeavours.  The  favorable  opportunity  which  Divine 
Providence  has  put  into  your  hands,  in  this  happy  country,  for  the 
accomplishment  of  so  great  a  good,  is  in  itself,  a  consideration  of 
no  small  encouragement.  A  country  happily  exempted  from  the 
baneful  influence  of  a  civil  establishment  of  any  peculiar  form  of 


8 


Christianity — from  under  the  direct  influence  of  the  anti-christiaia 
hierarchy — and  at  the  same  time,  from  any  formal  connexion  with 
the  devoted  nations,  that  have  given  their  strength  and  power  unto 
the  beast ;  in  which,  of  covirse,  no  adequate  reformation  can  be 
accomplished,  until  the  word  of  God  is  fulfilled,  and  the  vials  of 
his  wrath  poured  out  upon  them.  Happy  exemption,  indeed,  from 
being  the  object  of  such  awfiil  judgments.  Still  more  happy  will 
it  be  for  us,  if  we  duly  esteem  and  improve  those  great  advantages, 
for  the  high  and  valuable  ends,  for  which  they  are  manitesdy  given  ; 
— and  sure  where  much  is  given,  much  also  will  be  required.  Can 
the  Lord  expect,  or  require,  any  thing  less,  from  a  people  in  such, 
unhampered  circumstances — from  a  people  so  liberally  furnisheci 
with  all  means  and  mercies,  than  a  thorough  reformation,  in  all 
things  civil  and  religious,  according  to  his  word?  \^'^hy  should  we 
suppose  it?  And  would  not  such  an  improvement  of  our  precious 
privileges,  be  equally  conducive  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  our  own 
present  and  everlasting  good?  The  auspicious  phenomena  of  the 
times,  furnish  collateral  arguments  of  a  very  encouraging  nature, 
that  our  dutifbJ  and  pious  endeavours  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the 
Lord.  Is  it  not  the  day  of  the  Lord's  vengeance  upon  the  anri- 
christian  world ;  the  year  of  recompences  for  the  controversy  of 
Zion?  Surely  then  the  time  to  favor  her  is  come ;  even  the  set 
time.  And  is  it  not  said  that  Zion  shall  be  built  in  troublous  times.^ 
Have  not  greater  efforts  been  made,  and  more  done,  for  the  pro- 
mulgation of  the  gospel  among  the  nations,  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  French  revolution  than  had  been  for  many  centiudes, 
prior  to  that  event?  And  have  not  the  churches  both  in  Europe  and 
America,  since  that  period,  discovered  a  more  than  usual  concern 
for  the  removal  of  contentions,  for  the  healing  of  di\tisions,  for  the 
restoration  of  a  christian  and  brotherly  intercourse  one  with  another, 
and  for  the  promotion  of  each  others  spiritual  good  ;  as  tlie  printed 
documents,  upon  those  subjects,  amply  testify?  Should  tc-e  not, 
then,  be  excited,  by  these  considerations,  to  concur  with  all  our 
might,  to  help  forward  this  good  work  ;  that  what  yet  remains  to 
be  done,  may  be  fiilly  accomplished.  And  what!  Tho*  the  well 
meant  endeavours  after  union,  have  not,  in  some  instances,  entirely 
succeeded  to  this  wish  of  all  parties,  should  this  dissuade  us  from 
the  attempt.  Indeed,  should  christians  cease  to  contend  earnestly 
for  the  sacred  articles  of  faith  and  duty  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
on  account  of  the  opposition,  and  scanty  success,  which,  in  many 
instances  attend  their  faithful  and  honest  endeavours ;  the  divine 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  might  have,  long  ago,  been  relin- 
quished. And  is  there  any  thing  more  formidable  in  the  Goliah 
schism,  than  in  many  other  evils  which  christians  have  to  combat? 
\/Ot,  has  the  Captain  of  Salvation  sounded  a  desist  from  pursuing, 
or  proclaimed  a  truce  with,  this  deadly  enemy,  that  is  sheatiiing  it's 
sword  in  the  very  bowels  of  his  church,  rending  and  mangling  his 
mystical  body  into  pieces.  Has  he  said  to  his  sen^ants,  let  it  alone? 
If  not,  where  is  the  warrant  for  a  cessation  of  endeavours  to  have 


9 


it  removed?  On  the  otner  hand,  are  we  not  the  better  instructed 
by  sage  experience,  how  to  proceed  in  this  business ;  having  before 
our  eyes  the  inadvertencies,  and  mistakes  of  others,  which  have 
hitherto,  in  many  instances,  prevented  the  desired  success?  Thus 
taught  by  experience,  and  happily  furnished  with  the  accumulated 
instructions  of  those  that  have  gone  before  us ;  earnestly  labouring 
in  this  good  cause  ;  let  us  take  unto  ourselves  the  whole  armour 
of  God  ;  and,  having  our  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the 
gospel  of  peace,  let  us  stand  fast  by  this  important  duty,  with  all' 
perseverance.  Let  none  that  love  the  peace  of  Zion  be  discouraged, 
much  less  offended,  because  that  an  object  of  such  magnitude  does 
not  in  the  first  instance,  come  fourth  recommended  by  the  express 
suffrage  of  the  mighty  or  the  many.  This  consideration,  if  duly 
weighed,  will  neither  give  offence,  nor  yield  discouragement,  to 
any,  that  considers  the  nature  of  the  thing  in  question,  in  connexion 
with  what  has  been  already  suggested.  Is  it  not  a  matter  of  univer- 
sal right,  a  duty  equally  belonging  to  every  citizen  of  Zion,  to  seek 
her  good.  In  this  respect,  no  one  can  claim  a  preference  above 
his  fellows,  as  to  any  peculiar,  much  less  exclusive  obligation.  And, 
as  for  authority,  it  can  have  no  place  in  this  business  ;  for  surely  none 
can  suppose  themselves  invested  with  a  divine  right,  as  to  any  thing 
peculiarly  belonging  to  them,  to  call  the  attention  of  their  brethren 
to  this  dutiful  and  important  undertaking.  For  our  part,  we  enter- 
tain no  such  arrogant  presumption  ;  nor  are  we  inclined  to  impute 
the  thought  to  any  of  our  brethean,  that  this  good  work  should  be  let 
alone,  till  such  time  as  they  may  think  proper  to  come  forward, 
and  sanction  the  attempt,  by  their  invitation  and  example.  It  is 
an  open  field,  an  extensive  work,  to  which  all  are  equally  welcome, 
equally  invited. 

Should  we  speak  of  competency,  viewing  the  greatness  of  the 
object,  and  the  manifold  difficulties  which  lie  in  the  way  of  its 
accomplishment ;  we  would  readily  exclaim,  with  the  Apostle, 
who  is  sufficient  for  these  things! — But,  upon  recollecting  our- 
selves, neither  would  we  be  discouraged ;  persuaded  with  him, 
that,  as  the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged,  so  likewise,  our  suffi- 
ciency, is  of  God.  But  after  all,  both  the  mighty  and  the  many 
are  with  us.  The  Lord  himself,  and  all  that  are  truly  his  people, 
are  declaredly  on  our  side.  The  prayers  of  all  the  churches ;  nay, 
the  prayers  of  Christ  himself,  John  17,  20,  23,  and  of  all  that 
have  ascended  to  his  heavenly  kingdom,  are  with  us.  The  bless- ^ 
ing  out  of  Zion  is  pronoxmced  upon  our  undertaking.  Pray  for 
the  peace  of  Jerusalem,  they  shall  prosper  that  love  thee.  With/" 
such  encouragements  as  these,  what  should  deter  us  from  the 
heavenly  enterprize  ;  or  render  hopeless  the  attempt,  of  accom- 
plishing, in  due  time,  an  entire  union  of  all  the  churches  in  faith 
and  practice,  according  to  the  word  of  God.  Not  that  we  judge 
ourselves  competent  to  effect  such  a  thing  ;  we  utterly  disclaim  the 
thought :  But  we  judge  it  our  bounden  duty  to  make  the  attempt. 

B 


to 

by  useing  all  due  means  in  our  power  to  promote  it  ;  and  also  that 
we  have  sufficient  reason  to  rest  assured  that  our  humble  and  well- 
meant  endeavours,  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

The  cause  that  we  advocate  is  not  our  own  peculiar,  nor  the  cause 
of  any  party,  considered  as  such  ;  it  is  a  common  cause,  the  cause 
of  Christ  and  our  brethren  of  all  denominations.  AU  that  we  pre- 
sume, then,  is  to  do,  what  we  humbly  conceive  to  be  our  duty,  in 
connexion  with  our  brethren  ;  to  each  of  whom  it  equally  belongs, 
as  to  us,  to  exert  themselves  for  this  blessed  purpose.  And  as  we 
have  no  just  reason  to  doubt  the  concurrence  of  our  brethren,  to 
accomplish  an  object  so  desirable  in  itself,  and  fraught  with  such 
happy  consequences,  so  neither  can  we  look  forward  to  that  happy 
event,  which  wWl  forever  put  an  end  to  our  hapless  divisions,  and 
restore  to  the  church  its  primitive  unity,  purity  and  prosperity  ;  but, 
in  the  pleasing  prospect  of  their  hearty  and  dutiful  concurrence. 

Dearly  beloved  brethren,  why  should  we  deem  it  a  thing  incredi- 
ble that  the  church  of  Christ,  in  this  highly  favored  country, 
should  resume  that  original  unity,  peace  and  purity,  which  belongs 
to  its  constitution,  and  constitutes  its  glory.'  Or,  is  there  any  thing 
that  can  be  justly  deemed  necessary  for  this  desirable  purpose,  but 
to  conform  to  the  model,  and  adopt  the  practice  of  the  primitive 
church,  expressly  exhibited  in  the  New  Testament.  Whatever 
alterations  this  might  produce  in  any  or  all  of  the  churches,  should, 
we  think,  neither  be  deemed  inadmissible  nor  inehgible.  Surely 
such  alteration  would  be  every  way  for  the  better,  and  not  for  the 
worse  ;  unless  we  should  suppose  the  divinely  inspired  rule  to  be 
faulty,  or  defective.  Were  we,  then,  in  our  church  constitution 
and  managements,  to  exhibit  a  complete  conformity  to  the  Aposto- 
liv  k  church,  would  we  not  be  in  that  respect,  as  perfect  as  Christ 
intended  we  should  be.'    And  should  not  this  sufEce  us.' 

It  is,  to  us,  a  pleasing  consideration  that  all  the  churches  of 
Christ,  which  mutually  acknowledge  each  other  as  such,  are  not 
only  agreed  in  the  great  doctrines  of  faith  and  holliness  ;  but  are 
£l:o  materially  agreed,  as  to  the  positive  ordinances  of  Gospel 
institution  ;  so  that  our  differences,  at  most,  are  about  the  things 
in  which  the  kingdom  of  God  does  not  consist,  that  is,  about  mat- 
ters of  private  opinion,  or  human  invention.  What  a  pity,  that 
the  kingdom  of  God  should  be  divided  about  such  things!  !  Who 
then,  would  not  be  the  first  amongst  us,  to  give  up  with  human 
inventions  in  the  worship  of  God  ;  and  to  cease  from  imposing  his 
private  opiv.Ions  upon  his  brethren  :  that  our  breaches  might  thus 
be  healed.'  Who  would  not  willingly  conform  to  the  original  pattern 
laid  down  in  the  New  Testament,  for  this  happy  purpose.'  OurV^ 
dear  brethren,  of  all  denominations,  will  please  to  consider,  that 
we  have  our  educational  prejudices,  and  particular  customs  to  strug- 
gle with  as  well  as  they.  But  this  we  do  sincerely  declare,  that 
there  is  nothing  we  have  hitherto  received  as  matter  of  faith  or 
practice,  v.'hich  is  not  expressly  taught  and  enjoined  in  the  word 
of  God,  cither  in  express  terms,  or  approved  precedent,  that  we 
would  not  heartily  relinquish,  that  so  we  might  return  to  the  origi- 


II 


aial  constitutional  unity  of  the  christian  church  ;  and  in  this  happjr 
nanity,  enjoy  full  communion  with  all  our  brethren,  in  peace  and 
charity.  The  like  dutiful  condescension  we  candidly  expect  of  all 
tthat  are  seriously  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  duty  they  owe  to 
Ciod,  to  each  other,  and  to  their  perishing  fellow-brethren  of  man- 
Mnd.  To  this  we  call,  we  invite,  our  brethren,  of  all  denomina- 
jdons,  by  all  the  sacred  motives  which  we  have  avouched  as  the 
iimpulsive  reasons  of  our  thus  addressing  them. 

You  are  all,  dear  brethren,  equally  included  as  the  object  of  our 
Hove  and  esteem.  With  you  all  we  desire  to  unite  in  the  bonds  of 
:an  entire  christian  unity — Christ  alone  being  the  head,  the  centre, 
9iis  word  the  rule — an  explicit  belief  of,  and  manifest  comformity 
fio  it,  in  all  things — the  terms.  More  than  this,  you  will  not  re- 
quire of  us  ;  and  less  we  cannot  require  of  you  ;  nor,  indeed,  can 
we  reasonably  suppose,  any  would  desire  it  ;  for  what  good  purpose 
would  it  serve?  We  dare  neither  assume,  nor  purpose,  the  trite 
andefinite  distinction  between  essentials,  and  non-essentials,  in 
imatters  of  revealed  truth  and  duty  ;  firmly  persuaded,  that,  what- 
(sever  may  be  their  comparative  importance,  simply  considered,  the 
Ihigh  obligation  of  the  Divine  Authority  revealing,  or  enjoining 
(them,  renders  the  belief,  or  performance  of  them,  absolutely  es- 
isential  to  us,  in  so  far  as  we  know  them.  And  to  be  ignorant  of 
rany  thing  God  has  revealed,  can  neither  be  our  duty,  nor  our  pri- 
vilege. We  humbly  presume  then,  dear  brethren,  you  can  have 
mo  relevant  objection  to  meet  us  upon  this  ground.  And,  we  again 
tbeseech  you,  let  it  be  none,  that  it  is  the  invitation  but  of  a  few  ; 
Iby  your  accession  we  shall  be  many  ;  and  whether  few,  or  many, 
:in  the  first  instance,  it  is  all  one  with  respect  to  the  event, 
•which  must  ultimately  await  the  fiaU  information,  and  hearty 
fconcurrence,  of  all.  Besides,  whatever  is  to  be  done,  must 
(begin — sometime — somewhere  ;  and  no  matter  where,  nor  by 
■■whom,  if  the  Lord  puts  his  hand  to  the  work,  it  must  surely  pros- 
iper.  And  has  he  not  been  graciously  pleased,  upon  many  signal 
Mjccasions,  to  bring  to  pass  the  greatest  events  from  very  small 
Ibeginnings,  and  even  by  means  the  most  unlikely.  Duty  then  is 
(Ours  ;  but  events  belong  to  God. 

We  hope,  then,  what  we  urge,  will  neither  be  deemed  an  un- 
jreasonable  nor  an  unseasonable  undertaking.  Why  should  it  be 
fthought  unseasonable?  Can  any  time  be  assigned,  while  things  con- 
ttinue  as  they  are,  that  would  prove  more  favorable  for  such  an 
attempt,  or  what  could  be  supposed  to  make  it  so?  Might  it  be  the 
approximation  of  parties  to  a  greater  nearness,  in  point  of  public 
iprofession  and  similarity  of  customs?  Or  might  it  be  expected  from 
a  gradual  decline  of  bigotry?  As  to  the  former,  it  is  a  well  known 
ifact,  that  where  the  difference  is  least,  the  opposition  is  always 
managed  with  a  degree  of  vehemence,  inversely  proportioned  to 
tthe  merits  of  the  cause.  With  respect  to  the  latter,  tho'  we  are 
Eiappy  to  say,  that  in  some  cases  and  places,  and  we  hope,  univer- 
saUy,  bigotry  is  upon  the  decline  :  yet  we  are  not  warranted,  either 


12 


by  the  past  or  present,  to  act  upon  that  supposition.  We  have,  as 
yet,  by  this  means,  seen  no  such  effect  produced  ;  nor  indeed  could 
we  reasonably  expect  it  ;  tor  there  will  always  be  midtitudes  of 
weak  persons  in  the  church,  and  these  are  generally  most  subject 
to  bigotry  ;  add  to  this,  that  while  divisions  exist,  there  will  always- 
be  found  interested  men,  who  will  not  fail  to  support  them  : — nor 
can  we  at  all  suppose,  that  Satan  will  be  idle  to  improve  an  advan- 
tage, so  important  to  the  interests  of  his  kingdom.  And,  let  it  be 
further  observed  upon  the  whole;  that,  in  matters  of  similar  impor- 
tance to  our  secular  interests,  we  would,  by  no  means  content  our- 
selves, with  such  kind  of  reasoning.  We  might  further  add  that 
the  attempt  here  suggested  not  being  of  a  partial,  but  of  general 
nature,  it  can  have  no  just  tendency  to  excite  the  jealousy,  or  hurt 
the  feelings,  of  any  party.  On  the  contrary,  every  effort  towards  a 
|5fermanent  scriptural  unity  amongst  the  churches,  upon  the  solid 
basis  of  universally  acknowledged,  and  self-evident  truths,  must 
have  the  happiest  tendency  to  enlighten  and  conciliate  ;  by  thus 
manifesting  to  each  other,  their  mutual  charity,  and  zeal  for  the 
truth  : — "Whom  I  loved  in  the  truth,  saith  the  Apostle,  and  not  I 
only,  but  also  all  they  that  have  known  the  truth  ;  for  the  truth's- 
sake,  which  is  in  us,  and  shall  be  with  us  forever.  Indeed  if  no 
such  divine  and  adequate  basis  of  union,  can  be  fairly  exhibited,  as; 
will  meet  the  approbation  of  every  upright  and  intelligent  chris- 
tian :  nor  such  mode  of  procedure  adopted  in  favor  of  the  weak, 
as  will  not  oppress  their  consciences,  then  the  accomplishment  of 
this  grand  object  upon  principal,  must  be  forever  impossible. — 
There  would,  upon  this  supposition,  remain  no  other  way  of  ac- 
complishing it,  but  merely  by  voluntary  compromise,  and  good: 
natured  accommodation.  That  such  a  thing  however  will  be  ac- 
complished, one  way  or  other,  wiU  not  be  questioned  by  any  that 
allow  themselves  to  believe,  that  the  commands  and  prayers  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  will  not  utterly  prove  ineffectual.  Whatever 
way,  then,  it  is  to  be  effected ;  whether  upon  the  solid  basis  of 
divinely  revealed  truth  ;  or  the  good  natured  principle  of  christian 
forbearance  and  gracious  condescension  ;  is  it  not  equally  practica- 
ble, equally  eligible  to  us,  as  ever  it  can  be  to  any  ;  unless  we 
should  suppose  ourselves  destitute  of  that  christian  temper  and 
discernment,  which  is  essentially  necessary  to  qualify  us  to  do  the 
will  of  our  gracious  Redeemer,  whose  expressed  command  to  his; 
people  is  that  there  be  no  division  among  them  ;  but  that  they  all 
walk  by  the  same  rule,  speak  the  same  thing,  and  be  perfectly 
joined  together  in  the  same  mind,  and  in  the  same  judgment?  We 
believe  then  it  is  as  practicable,  as  it  is  eligible.  Let  us  attempt  it. 
"Up  and  be  doing,  and  the  Lord  will  be  with  you." 

Are  we  not  all  praying  for  that  happy  event,  when  there  shall  be 
but  one  fold,  as  there  is  but  one  chief  shepherd.  What!  shall  we 
pray  for  a  thing,  and  not  strive  to  obtain  it!  I  not  use  the  neces- 
sary means  to  have  it  accomplished!  !  What  said  the  Lord  to 
Moses  upon  a  piece  of  conduct  somewhat  similar?    "Why  criesfi: 


«3 


thou  unto  mc?  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel  that  they  go  for- 
ward, but  lift  thou  up  thy  rod,  and  stretch  out  thine  hand."  Let 
the  ministers  of  Jesus  but  embrace  this  exhortation,  put  their  hand 
to  the  work  and  encourage  the  people  to  go  forward  upon  the  firm 
ground  of  obvious  truth,  to  unite  in  the  bonds  of  an  entire  chris- 
ttian  unity  ;  and  who  will  venture  to  say,  that  it  would  not  soon  be 
accomplished?  "Cast  ye  up,  cast  ye  up,  prepare  the  way,  take  up 
she  stumbling  block  out  of  the  way  of  my  people,"  saith  your  God. 
To  you,  therefore,  it  peculiarly  belongs,  as  the  professed  and  ac- 
Scnowledged  leaders  of  the  people,  to  go  before  them  in  this  good 
•work — to  remove  human  opinions  and  the  inventions  of  men  out  of 
tthe  way  ;  by  carefully  separating  this  chaff,  from  the  pure  wheat  of 
primary  and  authentic  revelation  ; — casting  out  that  assumed  au- 
Jthority,  that  enacting  and  decreeing  power,  by  which  those  things 
Slave  been  imposed  and  established.  To  the  ministerial  department 
ithen  do  we  look  with  anxiety.  Ministers  of  Jesus,  we  can  neither 
he  ignorant  of,  nor  unaffected  with  the  divisions  and  corruptions  of 
Biis  church.  His  dying  commands,  his  last  and  ardent  prayers  for, 
the  visible  unity  of  his  professing  people,  wLU  not  suffer  you  to  be 
indifferent  in  this  matter.  You  will  not,  you  cannot,  therefore,  be 
silent,  upon  a  subject  of  such  vast  importance  to  his  personal 
glory  and  the  happiness  of  his  people — consistently  you  cannot ; 
ibr  silence  gives  consent.  You  will  rather  lift  up  your  voice  like  a 
ttrumpet  to  expose  the  heinous  nature,  and  dreadfiil  consequences 
of  those  uimatural  and  anti-christian  divisions,  which  have  so  rent 
and  ruined  the  church  of  God.  Thus,  in  justice  to  our  station  and 
(character,  honored  of  the  Lord,  would  we  hopefully  anticipate  your 
zealous  and  faithfiil  efforts  to  heal  the  breaches  of  Zion  ;  that 
•God's  dear  children  might  dwell  together  in  unity  and  love — But  if 
(Otherwise — *  *  *  *  we  forebear  to  utter  it.     See  Mai.  2,  i  — 10. 

Oh!  that  ministers  and  people  would  but  consider,  that  there 
are  no  divisions  in  the  grave  ;  nor  in  that  world  which  lies  beyond  it 
tthere  our  divisions  must  come  to  an  end!  we  must  all  unite  there! — 
"Would  to  God,  we  could  find  in  our  hearts  to  put  an  end  to  our 
short-lived  divisions  here  ;  that  so  we  might  leave  a  blessing  behind 
vas  ;  even  a  happy  and  united  church.  What  gratification,  what 
tutility,  in  the  meantime,  can  our  divisions  afford  either  to  ministers 
<or  people?  Should  they  be  perpetuated,  'till  the  day  of  judgment 
■would  they  convert  one  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways,  or  save  a 
isoul  from  death?  Have  they  any  tendency  to  hide  the  multitude  of 
sins  that  are  so  dishonorable  to  God,  and  hurtful  to  his  people? 
Do  they  not  rather  irritate  and  produce  them?  How  innumerable 
and  highly  aggravated  are  the  sins  they  have  produced,  and  are  at 
this  day,  producing,  both  amongst  professors  and  profane.  We 
«ntreat,  we  beseach  you  then,  dear  brethren,  by  all  those  considera- 
aions,  to  concur  in  this  blessed  and  dutiful  attempt — What  is  the 
■work  of  all,  must  be  done  by  all.  Such  was  the  work  of  the  taber- 
macle  in  the  wilderness.  Such  is  the  work  to  which  you  are  called  ; 
Dot  by  the  authority  of  man  ;  but  by  Jesus  Christ  and  God  the 


14 


Father,  who  raised  him  from  the  dead.  By  this  authority  are 
you  called  to  raise  up  the  tabernacle  of  David,  that  is  fallen  down 
amongst  us  ;  and  to  set  it  up  upon  its  own  base.  This  you  cannot 
do,  while  you  run  every  man  to  his  own  house,  and  consult  only 
the  interest  of  his  own  party.  Till  you  associate,  consult,  and 
advise  together  ;  and  in  a  friendly  and  christian  manner  explore  the 
subject,  nothing  can  be  done.  We  would  therefore,  with  all  due 
deference  and  submission,  call  the  attention  of  our  brethren  to  the 
obvious  and  important  duty  of  association.  Unite  with  us  in  the- 
common  cause  of  simple  evangelical  Christianity — In  this  glorious 
cause  we  are  ready  to  unite  with  you — United  we  shall  prevail.  It; 
is  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  of  our  brethren  throughout  all  the 
churches,  of  catholic  unity,  peace,  and  purity — a  cause  that  must 
finally  prosper  in  spite  of  all  opposition.  Let  us  unite  to  promote- 
it.  Come  forward  then,  dear  brethren,  and  help  with  us.  Do  not 
suffer  yourselves  to  be  lulled  asleep  by  that  syren  song  of  the  sloth- 
ful and  reluctant  professor,  "The  time  is  not  yet  come — the  time 
is  not  come — saith  he, — the  time  that  the  Lord's  house  should  be- 
built."  Believe  him  not — Do  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times.^ 
"Have  not  the  two  witnesses  arisen  from  their  state  of  poUtical 
death,  from  under  the  long  proscription  of  ages?  Have  they  not 
stood  upon  their  feet,  in  the  presence,  and  to  the  consternation  and 
terror  of  their  enemies?  Has  not  their  resurrection  been  accompa- 
nied with  a  great  earthquake?  Has  not  the  tenth  part  of  the  great 
city  been  thrown  down  by  it?  Has  not  this  event  aroused  the  nations 
to  indignation?  Have  they  not  been  angry,  yea  very  angry.  There- 
fore, O  Lord,  is  thy  wrath  come  upon  them,  and  the  time  of  the: 
dead  that  they  should  be  avenged,  and  that  thou  shouldest  give  re- 
ward to  thy  servants,  the  Prophets,  and  to  them  that  tear  thy  name, 
both  small  and  great  ;  and  that  thou  shouldest  destroy  them  that 
have  destroyed  the  earth.  Who  amongst  us  has  not  heard  the- 
report  of  these  things — of  these  lightnings  and  thunderings,  and. 
voices  of  this  tremendous  earthquake  and  great  hail  ;  of  these- 
awful  convulsions  and  revolutions  that  have  dashed  and  arc  dashing: 
to  pieces  the  nations  like  a  potter's  vessel?  Yea,  have  not  the  re- 
mote vibrations  of  this  dreadful  shock  been  kit  even  by  us,  whom' 
Providence  has  graciously  placed  at  so  great  a  distance?  What 
shall  we  say  to  these  things?  Is  it  time  for  us  to  sit  still  in  our' 
corruptions  and  divisions,  when  the  Lord  by  his  word  and  provi- 
dence, is  so  loudly  and  expressly  calling  us  to  repentance  and  refor- 
mation? "Awake,  awake  ;  put  on  thy  strength,  O  Zion,  put  on  thy 
beautifiil  garments,  O  Jerusalem  the  holy  city  ;  for  henceforthi 
there  shall  no  more  come  unto  thee  the  uncircumcised  and  the: 
unclean.     Shake  thyself  from  the  dust,   O  Jerusalem  ;  arise,  loose: 

thyself  from  the  hands  of  thy  nect,  O  captive  daughter  of  Zion"  

Resume  that  precious,  that  dear  bought  liberty,  wherewith  Christ 
has  made  his  people  free  ;  a  liberty  from  subjection  to  any  authority 
but  his  own,  in  matters  of  religion.  Call  no  man  father,  no  mam 
master  upon  earth  ; — for  one  is  your  master,  even  christ,  and  alU 


ye  are  brethren.  Stand  fast  therefore  in  this  precious  liberty,  and 
be  not  entangled  again  with  the  yoke  of  bondage.  For  the  vindica- 
tion of  this  precious  liberty  have  we  declared  ourselves  hearty  and 
willing  advocates.  For  this  benign  and  dutiful  purpose  have  we 
associated,  that  by  so  doing,  we  might  contribute  the  mite  of  our 
humble  endeavours  to  promote  it,  and  thus  invite  our  brethren  to  do 
the  same.  As  the  first  fruits  of  our  efforts  for  this  blessed  purpose 
we  respectfully  present  to  their  consideration  the  following  propo- 
sition— relying  upon  their  charity  and  candour  that  they  will  nei- 
ther despise,  nor  misconstrue,  our  humble  and  adventurous  at- 
tempt. If  they  should  in  any  measure  serve,  as  a  preliminary, 
to  open  up  the  way  to  a  permanent  scriptural  unity  amongst  the 
friends  and  lovers  of  truth  and  peace  throughout  the  churches,  we 
shall  greatly  rejoice  at  it.  We  by  no  means  pretend  to  dictate  :  and 
could  we  propose  any  thing  more  evident,  consistent,  and  adequate, 
it  should  be  at  their  service.  Their  pious  and  dutiful  attention  to 
an  object  of  such  magnitude  will  induce  them  to  communicate  to 
us  their  emendations  ;  and  thus  what  is  sown  in  weakness,  will  be 
raised  up  in  power — for  certainly  the  collective  graces  that  are  con- 
ferred upon  the  church,  if  duly  united  and  brought  to  bear  upon 
any  point  of  commanded  duty,  would  be  amply  sufficient  for  the 
right  and  successful  performance  of  it.  For  to  one  is  given  by 
the  spirit  the  word  of  wisdom  ;  to  another  the  word  of  knowledge 
by  the  same  spirit  ;  to  another  faith  by  the  same  spirit ;  to  another 
the  discerning  of  spirits  :  but  the  manifestation  of  the  spirit  is 
given  to  every  man  to  profit  withal.  As  every  man,  therefore,  hath 
received  the  gift,  even  so  minister  the  same  one  to  another  as  good 
stewards  of  the  manifold  grace  of  God.  In  the  face  then  of  such 
instructions,  and  with  such  assurances  of  an  aU-sufficiency  of  di- 
vine grace,  as  the  church  has  received  from  her  exalted  Head,  we 
can  neither  justly  doubt  the  concurance  of  her  genuine  members  ; 
nor  yet  their  ability,  when  dutifully  acting  together,  to  accomplish 
any  thing  that  is  necessary  for  his  glory,  and  their  own  good  ;  and 
certainly  their  visible  unity  in  truth  and  holiness,  in  faith  and  love, 
is,  of  all  things,  the  most  conducive  to  both  these,  if  we  may  credit 
the  dying  commands  and  prayers  of  our  gracious  Lord.  In  a  mat- 
ter, therefore,  of  such  confessed  importance,  our  christian  breth- 
ren, however  unhappOy  distinguished  by  party  names,  will  not, 
cannot,  withhold  their  helping  hand.  We  are  as  hartUy  willing  to 
be  their  debtors,  as  they  are  indispensably  bound  to  be  our  benefac- 
tors. Come,  then,  dear  brethren,  we  most  humbly  beseech  you, 
cause  your  light  to  shine  upon  our  weak  begmnings,  that  we  may 
sec  to  work  by  it.  Evince  your  zeal  for  the  glory  of  Christ,  and 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  your  fellow-christians,  by  your  hearty  and 
zealous  co-speration  to  promote  the  unity,  purity  and  prosperity  of 
his  church. 

Let  none  imagine  that  the  subjoined  propositions  are  at  all  inten- 
ded as  an  overture  towards  a  new  creed,  or  standard,  for  the  church, 
or,  as  in  any  wise  designed  to  be  made  a  term  of  communion  ; — no-j 


thing  can  be  further  from  our  intention.  They  are  merely  designed 
for  opening  up  the  way,  that  we  may  come  fairly  and  firmly  to  ori- 
ginal grounds  upon  clear  and  certain  premises  :  and  take  up  things 
just  as  the  Apostles  left  them. — That  thus  disentangled  from  the 
accruing  embarrassments  and  intervening  ages,  we  may  stand  with 
evidence  upon  the  same  ground  on  which  the  church  stood  at  the 
beginning — Having  said  so  much  to  solicit  attention  and  prevent 
mistake,  we  submit  as  follows: 

Prop.  I  .  That  the  church  of  Christ  upon  earth  is  essentially, 
intentionally,  and  constitutionally  one  ;  consisting  of  all  those  in 
every  place  that  profess  their  faith  in  Christ  and  obedience  to  him 
in  all  things  according  to  the  scriptures,  and  that  manifest  the  same 
by  their  tempers  and  conduct,  and  of  none  else  as  none  else  can  be 
truly  and  properly  called  christians. 

2.  That  although  the  church  of  Christ  upon  earth  must  neces- 
sarily exist  in  particular  and  distinct  societies,  locally  separate  one 
from  another  ;  yet  there  ought  to  be  no  schisms,  no  uncharitable 
divisions  among  them.  They  ought  to  receive  each  other  as  Christ 
Jesus  hath  also  received  them  to  the  glory  of  God.  And  for  this 
purpose,  they  ought  all  to  walk  by  the  same  rule,  to  mind  and  speak 
the  same  thing  ;  and  to  be  perfectly  joined  together  in  the  same 
mind,  and  the  same  judgment. 

3.  That  in  order  to  this,  nothing  ought  to  be  inculcated  upon 
christians  as  articles  of  faith  ;  nor  required  of  them  as  terms  of 
communion  ;  but  what  is  expressly  taught  and  enjoined  upon 
them,  in  the  word  of  God.  Nor  ought  any  thing  be  admitted,  as 
of  divine  obligation,  in  their  church  constitution  and  managements, 
but  what  is  expressly  enjoined  by  the  authority  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  Apostles  upon  the  New  Testament  church  ;  either 
in  expressed  terms,  or  by  approved  precedent. 

4.  That  although  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
are  inseparably  connected,  making  together  but  one  perfect  and 
entire  revelation  of  the  Divine  wiU,  for  the  edification  and  salva- 
tion of  the  church  ;  and  therefore  in  that  respect  cannot  be  sepa- 
rated ;  yet  as  to  what  directly  and  properly  belongs  to  their  imme- 
diate object,  the  New  Testament  is  as  perfect  a  constitution  for  the 
worship,  discipline  and  government  of  the  New  Testament  church, 
and  as  perfect  a  rule  for  the  particular  duties  of  its  members  ;  as 
the  Old  Testament  was  for  the  worship  discipline  and  government 
of  the  Old  Testament  church,  and  the  particular  duties  of  its 
members. 

5.  That  with  respect  to  the  commands  and  ordinances  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  the  scriptures  are  silent,  as  to  the  express 
time  or  manner  of  performance,  if  any  such  there  be  ;  no  human 
authority  h:is  power  to  interfere,  in  order  to  supply  the  supposed  de- 
ficiency, by  making  Ir.ws  for  the  church  ;  nor  can  any  thing  more 
be  required  of  christians  in  such  cases,  but  only  that  they  so  observe 
these  commands  and  ordinances,  as  will  evidently  answer  the  de- 
clared and  obvious  end  of  their  institution.     Much  less  has  any  hu- 


17 


man  authority  power  to  impose  new  commands  or  ordinances  upon 
the  church,  which  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  not  enjoined.  Nothing 
ought  to  be  received  into  the  faith  or  worship  of  the  church  ;  or  be 
made  a  term  of  communion  amongst  christians,  that  is  not  as  old 
as  the  New  Testament. 

6.  That  although  in^wferences  and  deductions  from  scripture  pre- 
mises, when  fairly  inferred,  may  be  truly  called  the  doctrine  of  God's 
holy  word  :  yet  are  they  not  formally  binding  upon  the  consciences 
of  christians  farther  than  they  perceive  the  connection,  and  evident- 
ly see  that  they  are  so  ;  for  their  faith  must  not  stand  in  the  wisdom 
of  men  ;  but  in  the  power  and  veracity  ot  God — therefore  no  such 
deduction  can  be  made  terms  of  communion,  but  do  properly  be- 
long to  the  after  and  progressive  edification  of  the  church.  Hence 
it  is  evident  that  no  such  deductions  or  inferental  truthes  ought  to 
have  any  place  in  the  churchs's  confession. 

7.  That  although  doctrinal  exhibitions  of  the  great  system  of  di- 
vine truths,  and  defensive  testimonies  in  opposition  to  prevailing  er- 
rors, be  highly  expedient  ;  and  the  more  fiill  and  explicit  they  be, 
for  those  purposes,  the  better ;  yet  as  these  must  be  in  a  great 
measure  the  effect  of  human  reasoning,  and  of  course  must  con- 
tain many  inferential  truths,  they  ought  not  to  be  made  terms  of 
christian  communion  :  unless  we  suppose,  what  is  contrary  to  fact, 
that  none  have  a  right  to  the  communion  of  the  church,  but  such 
as  possess  a  very  clear  and  decisive  judgment  ;  or  are  come  to  a 
very  high  degree  of  doctrinal  information  ;  whereas  the  church 
from  the  beginning  did,  and  ever  will,  consist  of  little  children  and 
young  men,  as  well  as  fathers. 

8.  That  as  it  is  not  necessary  that  persons  should  have  a  particu- 
lar knowledge  or  distinct  apprehension  of  all  divinely  revealed 
truths  in  order  to  entitle  them  to  a  place  in  the  church  ;  neither 
should  they,  for  this  purpose,  be  required  to  make  a  profession 
more  extensive  than  their  knowledge  :  but  that  on  the  contrary 
their  have  a  due  measure  of  scriptural  self-knowledge  respecting 
their  lost  and  perishing  condition  by  nature  and  practice  ;  and  of  the 
way  of  salvation  thro'  Jesus  Christ,  accompanied  with  a  profession 
of  their  faith  in,  and  obidence  to  him,  in  all  things  according  to 
his  word,  is  all  that  is  absolutely  necessary  to  qualify  them  for 
admission  into  his  church. 

9.  That  all  that  are  enabled,  thro'  grace,  to  make  such  a  profes- 
sion, and  to  manifest  the  reality  of  it  in  their  tempers  and  conduct, 
should  consider  each  other  as  the  precious  saints  of  God,  should 
love  each  other  as  brethren,  children  of  the  same  family  and  father, 
temples  of  the  same  spirit,  members  of  the  same  body,  subjects 
of  the  same  grace,  objects  of  the  same  divine  love,  bought  with 
the  same  price,  and  joint  heirs  of  the  same  mheritance.  Whom 
God  hath  thus  joined  together  no  man  should  dare  to  put  asunder. 

10.  That  division  among  christians  is  a  horrid  evil,  fraught  with 
many  evils.  It  is  anti-christian,  as  it  destroys  the  visible  unity  of 
the  body  of  Christ ;  as  if  he  were  divided  against  himself,  exclu- 


i8 


ding  and  excommanicating  a  part  of  himself.  It  is  anti-scriptural, 
as  being  strictly  prohibited  by  his  sovereign  authority  ;  a  direct 
violation  of  his  express  command.  It  is  anti-natural,  as  it  excites 
christians  to  contemn,  to  hate  and  oppose  one  another,  who  are 
bound  by  the  highest  and  most  endearing  obligations  to  love  each 
other  as  brethren,  even  as  Christ  has  loved  them.  In  a  word,  it  is 
productive  of  confusion,  and  of  every  evil  work. 

11.  That,  (in  some  instances,)  a  partial  neglect  of  the  expressly 
revealed  will  of  God  ;  and,  (in  others,)  an  assumed  authority  for 
making  the  approbation  of  human  opinions,  and  human  inventions, 
a  term  of  communion  by  introducing  them  into  the  constitution, 
faith,  or  worship,  of  the  church  :  are,  and  have  been,  the  imme- 
diate, obvious,  and  universally  acknowledged  causei,  of  all  the  cor- 
ruptions and  divisions  that  ever  have  taken  place  in  the  church  of 
God. 

12.  That  all  that  is  necessary  to  the  highest  state  of  profection 
and  purity  of  the  church  upon  earth  is,  first,  that  none  be  received 
as  members,  but  such  as  having  that  due  measure  of  scriptural 
self-knowledge  described  above,  do  profess  their  faith  in  Christ  and 
obedience  to  him  in  all  things  according  to  the  scriptures  ;  nor, 
zdly,  that  any  be  retained  in  her  communion  longer  than  they 
continue  to  manifest  the  reality  ot  their  profession  by  their  tempers 
and  conduct.  3dly,  that  her  ministers,  duly  and  scripturally  quali- 
fied, inculcate  none  other  things  than  those  very  articles  of  faith 
and  holiness  expressly  revealed  and  enjoined  in  the  word  of  God. 
Lastly,  that  in  all  their  administration  they  keep  close  by  the  ob- 
servance of  all  divine  ordinances,  after  the  example  of  the  primitive 
church,  exhibited  in  the  New  Testament  ;  without  any  additions 
whatsoever  of  human  opinions  or  inventions  of  men. 

13.  Lastly.  That  if  any  circumstantial  indispensably  necessary 
to  the  observance  of  divine  ordinances  be  not  found  upon  the  page 
of  express  revelation,  such,  and  such  only,  as  are  absolutely  ne- 
cessary for  this  purpose,  should  be  adopted,  under  the  title  of 
human  expedients,  without  any  pretence  to  a  more  sacred  origin 

■ — so  that  any  subsequent  alteration  or  difference  in  the  observance 
of  these  things  might  produce  no  contention  nor  division  in  the 
church. 

From  the  nature  and  construction  of  these  propositions,  it  will 
evidently  appear,  that  they  are  laid  in  a  designed  subserviency  to 
the  declared  end  of  our  association  ;  and  are  exhibited  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  performing  a  duty  of  previous  necessity — a  duty 
loudly  called  for  in  existing  circumstances  at  the  hands  of  every  one, 
that  would  desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  Zion — a  duty  not  only 
enjoined,  as  has  been  already  observed  from  Is.  57,  14,  but  which 
is  also  there  predicted  of  the  faithful  remnant  as  a  thing  in  which 
they  would  voluntarily  engage.  "He  that  putteth  his  trust  in  me 
shall  possess  the  land,  and  shall  inherit  my  holy  mountain  ;  and 
shall  say,  cast  ye  up,  cast  ye  up,  prepare  the  way  ;  take  up  the 
stumbling  block  out  of  the  way  of  my  people."    To  prepare  the 


19 


way  for  a  permanent  scriptural  unity  amongst  christians,  by  calling 
up  to  their  consideration  fundamental  truths,  directing  their  atten- 
tion to  first  principles,  clearing  the  way  before  them  by  removing 
the  stumbling  blocks — the  rubbish  of  ages  which  has  been  thrown 
upon  it,  and  fencing  it  on  each  side,  that  in  advancing  towards  the 
desired  object,  they  may  not  miss  ^le  way  through  mistake,  or 
inadvertency,  by  turning  aside  to  the  "ight  hand  or  to  the  left — is, 
at  least,  the  sincere  intention  of  the  above  propositions.  It  remains 
with  our  brethren,  now  to  say,  how  far  they  go  toward  answering 
this  intention.  Do  they  exhibit  truths  demonstrably  evident  in  the 
light  of  scripture  and  right  reason  ;  so  that  to  deny  any  part  of 
them  the  contrary  assertion  would  be  manifestly  absurd  and  inad- 
missible.'' Considered  as  a  preliminary  for  the  above  purpose,  are 
they  adequate  ;  so  that  if  acted  upon,  they  would  infallibly  lead  to 
the  desired  iesue — If  evidently  defective  in  either  of  these  respects, 
let  them  be  corrected  and  amended,  till  they  become  sufficiently 
evident,  adequate,  and  unexceptionable.  In  the  mean  time  let  them 
be  examined  with  rigor,  with  all  the  rigor  that  justice,  candour, 
and  charity  will  admit.  If  we  have  mistaken  the  way,  we  shall  be 
glad  to  be  set  right  ; — but  if,  in  the  mean  time,  we  have  been  hap- 
pily led  to  suggest  obvious  and  undeniable  truths,  which  if  adopted 
and  acted  upon,  would  infallibly  lead  to  the  desired  unity,  and 
secure  it  when  obtained  ;  we  hope  it  will  be  no  objection,  that  they 
have  not  proceeded  from  a  general  council.  It  is  not  the  voice  of 
the  multitude,  but  the  voice  of  truth,  that  has  power  with  the  con- 
science— that  can  produce  rational  conviction,  and  acceptable  obe- 
dience. A  conscience  that  awaits  the  decision  of  the  multitude, 
that  hangs  in  suspence  for  the  casting  vote  of  the  majority,  is  a  fit 
subject  for  the  man  of  sin.  This  we  are  persuaded  is  the  uniform 
sentiment  of  real  christians  of  every  denomination.  Would  to  God 
that  all  professors  were  such — then  should  our  eyes  soon  behold 
the  prosperity  of  Zion  ;  we  should  soon  see  Jerusalem  a  quiet 
habitation.  Union  in  truth  has  been,  and  ever  must  be,  the  desire 
and  prayer  of  all  such — Union  in  Truth  is  our  motto.  The  Divine 
Word  is  our  Standard  ;  in  the  Lord's  name  do  we  display  our 
banners.  Our  eyes  are  upon  the  promises  ;  "So  shall  they  fear 
the  name  of  the  Lord  from  the  west,  and  his  glory  from  the  rising 
of  the  sun."  When  the  enemy  shall  come  in  like  a  flood  the  spirit 
of  the  Lord  shall  lift  up  a  standard  against  him."  Our  humble 
desire  is  to  be  his  standard  bearers — to  fight  under  his  banner,  and 
with  his  weapons,  "which  are  not  carnal  ;  but  mighty  through 
God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong  holds;"  even  all  these  strong 
holds  of  division,  those  partition  walls  of  separation  ;  which,  like 
the  wall  of  Jericho,  have  been  built  up,  as  it  were,  to  the  very 
heavens,  to  separate  God's  people,  to  divide  his  flock  and  so  to 
prevent  them  from  entering  into  their  promised  rest,  at  least  in  so 
far  as  it  respects  this  world.  An  enemy  hath  done  this  ;  but  he 
shall  not  finally  prevail  ; — "for  the  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth, 
and  shall  delight  themselves  in  the  abundance  of  peace."     And  the 


20 


kingdom  and  dominion,  even  the  greatest  of  the  kingdom  under 
the  whole  heaven,  shall  be  given  to  the  people  of  the  saints  of  the 
Most  High,  and  they  shall  possess  it  forever."  But  this  cannot  be 
in  their  present  broken  and  divided  state,  "for  a  kingdom,  or  an 
house  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand,  but  cometh  to  desola- 
tion." Now  this  has  been  the  case  with  the  church  for  a  long 
time.  However,  "the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  his  people,  neither 
will  he  forsake  his  heritage,  but  judgment  shall  return  unto 
righteousness,  and  all  the  upright  in  heart  shall  follow  it."  To 
all  such,  and  such  alone,  are  our  expectations  directed.  Come, 
then,  ye  blessed  of  the  Lord,  we  have  your  prayers,  let  us  also 
have  your  actual  assistance.  What,  shall  we  pray  for  a  thing  and 
not  strive  to  obtain  it! 

We  call,  we  invite  you  again,  by  every  consideration  in  these 
premises.  You  that  are  near,  associate  with  us  ;  you  that  are  at 
too  great  a  distance,  associate  as  we  have  done — Let  not  the  pauci- 
ty of  your  number  in  any  given  district,  prove  an  insuperable  dis- 
couragement. Remember  him  that  has  said,  "if  two  of  you  shall 
agreed  on  earth  as  touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be 
done  for  them  of  my  father  which  is  in  heaven  :  for  where  two  or 
three  are  gathared  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst 
of  them."  With  such  a  promise  as  this  for  the  attainment  of  eve- 
ry possible  and  promised  good,  there  is  no  room  for  discourage- 
ment. Come  on,  then,  "ye  that  fear  the  Lord  keep  not  silence, 
and  give  him  no  rest  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  joy  and  a  praise  in  the 
earth.  Put  on  that  noble  rosolution  dictated  by  the  phrophet,  say- 
ing, "for  Zion's  sake  will  we  not  hold  our  peace,  and  for  Jerusa- 
lem's sake  we  will  not  rest  until  the  righteousness  thereof  go  forth 
as  brightness,  and  the  salvation  thereof  as  a  lamp  that  burneth."  — 
Thus  impressed,  ye  wiU  find  means  to  associate  at  such  convenient 
distances,  as  to  meet,  at  least,  once  a  month,  to  beseech  the  Lord  to 
put  an  end  to  our  lamentable  divisions  ;  to  heal  and  unite  his  people, 
that  his  church  may  resume  her  original  constitutional  unity  and 
purity,  and  thus  be  exalted  to  the  enjoyment  of  her  promised  pros- 
perity— that  the  Jews  may  be  speedily  converted,  and  the  fullness 
of  the  Gentiles  brought  in.  Thus  associated,  you  will  be  in  a  capa- 
city to  investigate  the  evil  causes  of  our  sad  divisions  ;  to  consider 
and  bewail  their  pernicious  effects ;  and  to  mourn  over  them  be- 
fore the  Lord — who  hath  said,  "I  will  go  and  return  to  my  place, 
till  they  acluiowledge  their  offence  and  seek  my  face."  Alas!  then, 
what  reasonable  prospect  can  we  have  of  being  delivered  from 
those  sad  calamities,  which  have  so  long  afflicted  the  church  of 
God  ;  while  a  party  spirit,  instead  of  bewailing,  is  every  where 
justifying,  the  bitter  principle  of  these  pernicious  evils  ;  by  insist- 
ing upon  the  right  of  rejecting  those,  however  unexceptionable 
in  other  respects,  who  cannot  see  with  them  in  matters  of  private 
opinion,  of  human  inference,  that  are  no  where  expressly  revealed 
or  enjoined  in  the  word  of  God. — Thus  associated,  will  the  friends 
of  peace,  the  advocates  for  christian  unity,  be  in  a  capacity  to  con- 


21 


ncct  in  large  circles,  where  several  of  those  smaller  societies  majr 
meet  semi-amiually  at  a  convenient  centre,  and  thus  avail  them- 
selves of  their  combined  exertions  for  promoting  the  interests  ot 
the  common  cause.  We  hope  that  many  of  the  Lord's  ministers 
in  all  places  will  volunteer  in  this  service,  forasmuch  as  they  know, 
it  is  his  favorite  work,  the  very  desire  of  his  soul. 

Ye  lovers  of  Jesus,  and  beloved  of  him,  however  scattered  in 
this  cloudy  and  dark  day,  ye  love  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  (if  our 
hearts  deceive  us  not)  so  do  we.  Ye  desire  union  in  Christ,  with  all 
them  that  love  him  ;  so  do  we.  Ye  lament  and  bewail  our  sad  di- 
visions ;  JO  do  we.  Ye  reject  the  doctrines  and  commandments  or 
men  that  ye  may  keep  the  law  of  Christ ;  so  do  we.  Ye  believe 
the  alone  sufficiency  of  his  word  ;  so  do  we.  Ye  believe  that  the  word 
itself  ought  to  be  our  rule  and  not  any  human  explication  of  it  ;  so  do 
we.  Ye  believe  that  no  man  has  a  right  to  judge,  to  exclude,  or  re- 
ject, his  professing  christian  brother  ;  except  in  so  far  as  he  stands 
condemned,  or  rejected,  by  the  express  letter  ot  the  law  : — so  do 
we.  Ye  believe  that  the  great  fundamental  law  of  unity  and  love  ought 
not  to  be  violated  to  make  way  for  exalting  human  opinions  to  an  e- 
quality  with  express  revelation,  by  making  them  articles  of  faith  and 
terms  of  communion — so  do  we.  Ye  sincere  and  impartial  followers 
of  Jesus,  friends  of  truth  and  peace,  we  dare  not,  we  cannot,  think 
otherwise  of  you  ; — it  would  be  doing  violence  to  your  character  ; 
— it  would  be  inconsistent  with  your  prayers  and  profession,  so  to 
do.  We  shall  therefore  have  your  harty  concurrence.  But  if  any 
of  our  dear  brethren,  from  whom  we  should  expect  better  things, 
should  through  weakness  or  prejudice,  be  in  any  thing  otherwise 
minded,  than  we  have  ventured  to  suppose,  we  charitably  hope, 
that,  in  due  time,  God  will  reveal  even  this  unto  them  : — Only  let 
such  neither  refiise  to  come  to  the  light ;  nor  yet  through  preju- 
dice, reject  it,  when  it  shines  upon  them.  Let  them  rather  seri- 
ously consider  what  we  have  thus  most  seriously  and  respectfolly 
submitted  to  their  consideration,  weigh  every  sentiment  in  the 
balance  of  the  sanctuary,  as  in  the  sight  of  God,  with  earnest 
prayer  for,  and  humble  reliance  upon  his  spirit  ;  and  not  in  the 
spirit  of  self-sufficiency  and  party  zeal, — and,  in  so  doing,  we  rest 
assured,  the  consequence  will  be  happy,  both  for  their  own,  and  the 
church's  peace.  Let  none  imagine,  that  in  so  saying,  we  arrogate 
to  ourselves  a  degree  of  intelligence  superior  to  our  brethren, 
much  less  superior  to  mistake — so  far  from  this,  our  coniidence  is 
entirely  founded  upon  the  express  scripture  and  matter  of  fact 
evidence,  of  the  things  referred  to  ;  which  may  nevertheless, 
through  inattention,  or  prejudice,  fail  to  produce  their  proper 
effect  ; — as  has  been  the  case,  with  respect  to  some  of  the  most 
evident  truths,  in  a  thousand  instances. — But  charity  thinketh  no 
evil  :  and  we  are  far  from  surmising,  though  we  must  speak.  To 
warn  even  against  possible  evils,  is  certainly  no  breach  of  charity, 
as  to  be  confident  of  the  certainty  of  some  things,  is  no  just  argu- 
ment of  presumption.     We  by  no  means  claim  the  approbation  of 


22 


oar  brethren,  as  to  anv  thing  we  have  suggested  for  promoting  the 
sacred  cause  of  christian  unity  ;  fanher  than  it  carries  its  own 
evidence  along  with  it :  but  we  humbly  claim  a  fair  investigation  of 
the  subject ;  and  solicit  the  assistance  of  our  brethren  for  carrying 
into  effect  what  we  have  thus  weakly  anempted.  It  is  our  conso- 
lation, in  the  mean  time,  that  the  desired  event,  as  certain  as  it  will 
be  happy  and  glorious,  admits  of  no  dispute  ;  however  we  may 
hesitate,  or  diner,  about  the  proper  means  of  promoting  it.  All  we 
shall  venture  to  say  as  to  this,  is  that  we  trust  we  have  taken  the 
proper  ground,  zi  least,  if  we  have  not,  we  dispair  of  finding  it 
elsewhere.  For  if  holding  fast  in  profession  and  practice  whatever 
is  expressly  revealed  and  enjoined  in  the  diN-ine  standard  does  not 
under  the  promised  influence  of  the  divine  spirit,  prove  an  adequate 
basis  for  promodng  and  maintaining  unit\-,  peace  and  puritv,  we 
utterly  despair  of  attaining  those  invaluable  pri%Tleges,  bv  adopting 
the  standard  of  any  party.  To  advocate  the  cause  of  uuivy  while 
espousing  the  interests  of  a  party  would  appear  as  absurd,  as  for 
this  country  to  take  part  with  either  of  the  beligerents  in  the  pre- 
sent awfiil  struggle,  which  has  convulsed  and  is  con%-ulsing  the 
nations,  in  order  to  maintain  her  neutrality'  and  secure  her  peace. 
Nay,  it  wotJd  be  adopting  the  ven."  means,  by  which  the  bewildered 
church  has,  for  hundreds  of  years  past,  been  rending  and  di%4ding 
herself  into  fracrions  ;  for  Christ's  sake  and  for  the  truth's  sake  ; 
though  the  first  and  foundation  truth  of  our  christianitv  is  urion 
with  him,  and  the  very  next  to  it  in  order,  union  with  each  other 
in  him — "that  we  receive  each  other,  as  Christ  has  also  received 
us:  to  the  glory  of  God."  For  this  is  his  commandment  that  we 
believe  in  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  and  love  one  another,  as  he  gave 
us  commandment.  And  he  that  keepeth  his  commandments  dve"- 
eth  in  him,  and  he  in  him — and  hereby  we  know  that  he  dwellcth 
in  us,  by  the  spirit  which  he  hath  given  us" — even  the  spirit  of 
faith,  and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind.  And  surely  this  should 
suffice  us.  But  how  to  love,  and  receive  our  brother  ;  as  we  believe 
and  hope  Christ  has  received  both  him  and  us,  and  yet  refase  to 
held  communion  with  him,  is  we  confess,  a  mystery-  too  deep  for 
us.  If  this  be  the  way  that  Christ  hath  received  us,  shen  woe  is 
imto  us.  ^^'e  do  not  here  intend  a  professed  brother  trangressing 
the  expressed  letter  of  the  law,  and  rehising  to  be  reclaimed. — 
Whatever  may  be  our  chariti."  in  such  a  case,  we  have  not  sufScient 
e\-idence  that  Christ  hath  received  him,  or  that  he  hath  received 
Christ  as  his  teacher  and  Lord.  To  adopt  means,  then,  aprarentlr 
subversive  of  the  very  end  proposed,  means  which  the  experience 
of  ages  has  evinced  successfbl  only  in  overthrowing  the  NTsible 
interests  of  Christianity  ;  in  coimteracting,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
declared  intention,  the  expressed  command  of  its  Divine  Author ; 
would  appear  in  no  vs-ise  a  prudent  measure  for  remo\dng  and  pre- 
venting those  e^-ils.  To  maintain  unity  and  purity  has  always  been 
the  plausable  pretence  of  the  compilers  and  abettors  of  human 
systems  ;  and  we  beheve  in  many  instances  their  sincere  intention  : 


23 


"but  have  they  at  all  answered  the  end?  Confessedly,  demonstrably, 
thcv  have  not — no,  not  even  in  the  several  parties  which  have  most 
strictly  adopted  them — much  less  to  the  catholic  professing  body. 
Instead  of  h'-r  catholic  constitutional  unity  and  purity,  what  does 
the  church  present  us  with,  at  this  day,  but  a  catalogue  of  sects 
and  sectarian  systems  ;  each  binding  its  respective  party  by  the 
mose  sacred  and  solemn  engagements,  to  continue  as  it  is  to  the 
•end  of  the  world  ;  at  least  this  is  confessedly  the  case  with  many 
•of  them.  What  a  sorry  substitute  these,  for  christian  unity  and 
love.  On  the  other  hand,  what  a  mercy  is  it,  that  no  human  obli- 
gation that  man  can  come  under  is  valid  against  the  truth.  When 
the  Lord  the  healer,  descends  upon  his  people,  to  give  them  a 
<liscovery  of  the  nature  and  tendency  of  those  artificial  bonds, 
wherewith  they  have  suffered  themselves  to  be  bound,  in  their 
dark  and  sleepy  condition  :  they  will  no  more  be  able  to  hold  them 
in  a  state  of  sectarian  bondage  ;  than  the  withs  and  cords  with 
which  the  Philistines  bound  Sampson  were  able  to  retain  him  their 
prisoner  ;  or,  than  the  bonds  of  anti-christ  were,  to  hold  in  captivi- 
ty the  fathers  of  the  reformation.  May  the  Lord  soon  open  the 
•eyes  of  his  people  to  see  these  things  in  their  true  light  ;  and  ex- 
cite them  to  come  up  out  of  their  wilderness  condition — -out  of  this 
Babel  of  conflision — leaning  upon  their  beloved,  and  embracing 
each  other  in  him  ;  holding  fast  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bonds 
of  peace.  This  gracious  unity  and  unanimity  in  Jesus  would  afford 
the  bf  St  external  evidence  of  their  union  with  him  ;  and  of  their 
•conjoint  interest  in  the  Father's  love.  By  this  shall  all  men  know 
that  ye  are  my  disciples,  saith  he,  if  ye  have  love  one  to  another. 
And  "this  is  my  commandment  that  ye  love  one  another  as  I  have 
loved  you  ;  that  ye  also  love  one  another."  And  again,  "Holy 
Father,  keep  through  thine  own  name,  those  whom  thou  hast  given 
•me  that  they  may  be  one  as  we  are,"  even  "all  that  shall  believe 
in  me — that  they  all  may  be  one  ;  as  thou  Father  art  in  me  and  I  in 
thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us  ;  that  the  world  may  believe 
that  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  the  glory  which  thou  gavest  me  ;  I 
have  given  them,  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one  :  I  in 
them  and  them  in  me,  that  they  may  be  made  perfect  in  me  ;  and 
that  the  world  may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me,  and  has  loved 
them,  as  thou  hast  loved  me."  May  the  Lord  hasten  it  in  his  time. 
Farewell. 

Peace  be  with  all  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  since- 
Tity.  Amen. 


THOS.  CAMPBELL,  Secretary. 


THOS.  ACHESON,  Treasurer. 


24 


APPENDIX. 


TO  prevent  mistakes,  we  be  beg  leave  to  subjoin  the  following 
explanations.  As  to  what  we  have  done — our  reasons  for  so  doing 
— and  the  grand  object  we  would  desire  to  see  accomplished — all 
these,  we  presume,  are  sufficiently  declared  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
As  to  what  we  intend  to  do  in  our  associate  capacity,  and  the  ground 
we  have  taken  in  that  capacity,  tho'  expressly  and  definitely  declared  ; 
yet,  these,  perhaps,  might  be  liable  to  some  misconstruction. — 
First,  then,  we  beg  leave  to  assure  our  brethren,  that  we  have  no 
intention  to  interfere,  either  direcdy,  or  indirectly,  with  the  peace 
and  order  of  the  settled  churches,  by  directing  any  ministerial 
assistance,  with  which  the  Lord  may  please  to  favour  us,  to  make 
inroads  upon  such  ;  or,  by  endeavouring  to  erect  churches  out  of 
churches — to  distract  and  divide  congregations.  We  have  no  nos- 
trum, no  peculiar  discovery  of  our  own  to  propose  to  fellow-chris- 
tians,  for  the  fancied  importance  of  which,  they  should  become 
followers  of  us.  We  propose  to  patronize  nothing  but  the  inculca- 
tion of  the  express  word  of  God — either  as  to  matter  of  faith  or 
practice  ; — but  every  one  that  has  a  Bible  and  can  read  it,  can  read 
this  for  himself. — Therefore  we  have  nothing  new.  Neither  do  we 
pretend  to  acknowledge  persons  to  be  ministers  of  Christ,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  consider  it  our  duty  to  forbid,  or  discourage  people 
to  go  to  hear  them,  merely  because  they  may  hold  some  things 
disagreeable  to  us  ;  much  less  to  encourage  their  people  to  leave 
them  on  that  account  ; — and  such  do  we  esteem  all,  who  preach  a 
free  unconstitutional  salvation  through  the  blood  of  Jesus  to  per- 
ishing sinners  of  every  description  ;  and  who  manifestly  connect 
with  this  a  life  of  holiness,  and  pastoral  dilligencc  in  the  perform- 
ance of  all  the  duties  of  their  sacred  office  according  to  the  scrip- 
tures ;  even  all,  of  whom,  as  to  all  appearance,  it  may  be  truly 
said  to  the  object  of  their  charge,  <'they  seek  not  yours,  hut  you." 
May  the  good  Lord  prosper  all  such,  by  whatever  name  they  are 
called  ;  and  fast  hasten  that  happy  period,  when  Zion's  watchmen 
shall  see  eye  to  eye,  and  all  be  called  by  the  same  name.  Sucb 
then  have  nothing  to  fear  from  our  association,  were  our  resources 
equal  to  our  utmost  wishes.  But  all  others  we  esteem  as  hirelings, 
as  idol  shephards ;  and  should  be  glad  to  see  the  Lord's  flock  de- 
livered from  their  mouth,  according  to  his  promise.  Our  princi- 
pal and  proper  design,  then,  with  respect  to  ministerial  assistants, 
such  as  we  have  described  in  our  fifth  resolution,  is  to  direct  their 
attention  to  those  places  where  there  is  manifest  need  for  their 
labours  ;  and  many  such  places  there  are  ;  would  to  God  it  were  in 
our  power  to  supply  them.     As  to  creeds  and  confessions,  although 


25 


we  may  appear  to  our  brethren  to  oppose  them,  yet  this  is  to  be 
understood  only  in  so  far  as  tney  oppose  the  unity  of  the  church,  by 
containing  sentiments  not  expressly  revealed  in  the  word  of  God  ; 
or  by  the  way  of  us^ing  them,  become  the  instruments  of  a  human 
or  implicit  faith  :  or,  oppress  the  weak  of  God's  heritage  :  where 
they  are  liable  to  none  of  those  objections,  we  have  nothing  against 
them.  It  is  the  abuse  and  not  the  lawful  use  of  such  compilations 
that  we  oppose.  See  prop.  7,  page  17.  Our  intention  therefore, 
with  respect  to  all  the  churches  of  Christ  is  perfectly  amicable. 
We  heartily  wish  their  reformation  ;  but  by  no  means  their  hurt  or 
confusion.  Should  any  affect  to  say,  that  our  coming  forward  as  we 
have  done,  in  advancing  and  publishing  such  things,  have  a  manifest 
tendency  to  distract  and  divide  the  churches,  or  to  make  a  new  par- 
ty ;  we  treat  it  as  a  confident  and  groundless  assertion  :  and  must 
suppose  they  have  not  duly  considered,  or  at  least,  not  well  under- 
stood the  subject. 

All  we  shall  say  to  this  at  present,  is,  that  if  the  divine  word  be  not 
the  standard  of  a  party — Then  are  we  not  a  party,  for  we  have  adop- 
ted no  other.  It  to  maintain  its  alone  sufficiency  be  not  a  party  prin- 
ciple :  then  are  we  not  a  party — If  to  justify  this  principle  by  our 
practice,  in  making  a  rule  of  it,  and  of  /'/  alo?ie  ;  and  not  of  our  own 
opinions,  nor  of  those  of  others  be  not  a  party  principle — then  are 
we  not  a  party — If  to  propose  and  practice  neither  more  nor  less 
than  it  expressly  reveals  and  enjoins  be  not  a  partial  business,  then 
are  we  not  a  party.  These  are  the  very  sentiments  we  have  approved 
and  recommended,  as  a  society  formed  for  the  express  purpose  of 
promoting  christian  unity,  in  opposition  to  a  party  spirit.  Should 
any  tell  us  that  to  do  these  things  is  impossible  without  the  inter- 
vention of  human  reason  and  opinion.  We  humbly  thank  them  for 
the  discovery.  But  who  ever  thought  otherwise.''  Were  we  not  ra- 
tional subjects,  and  of  course  capable  of  understanding  and  forming 
opinions  ;  would  it  not  evidently  appear,  that,  to  us,  revelation  of 
any  kind  would  be  quite  useless  ;  even  suppose  it  as  evident  as  ma- 
thematicks.  We  pretend  not,  therefore,  to  divest  ourselves  of  rea- 
son, that  we  may  become  quiet,  inoffensive,  and  peaceable  christians  ; 
nor  yet,  of  any  of  its  proper  and  legitimate  operations  upon  divinely 
revealed  truths.  Wc  only  pretend  to  assert,  that  every  one  that  pre- 
tends to  reason  must  zcknowledge  ;  namely,  that  there  is  a  manifest 
diitinction  betwixt  an  express  scripture  declaration,  and  the  con- 
clusion or  inference  which  may  be  deduced  from  it — and  that  the  ^ 
former  may  be  clearly  understood,  even  where  the  latter  is  but  im- 
perfectly, if  at  all  perceived  ;  and  that  v/e  are,  at  least,  as  certain  of 
the  declaration,  as  we  can  be  of  the  conclusion,  we  draw  from  it — 
and  that,  after  all,  the  conclusion  ought  not  to  be  exalted  above  the 
premises,  so  as  to  make  void  the  declaration  for  the  sake  of  esta- 
blishing our  own  conclusion — and  that,  therefore,  the  express  com- 
mands to  preserve  and  maintain  inviolate  christian  unity  and  love 
ought  not  to  be  set  aside  to  make  way  for  exalting  our  inferences 

D 


26 


above  the  express  authority  of  God.  Our  uiference  upon  the  whole^ 
is,  tliat  where  a  professing  christian  brother  opposes  or  refuses  no- 
thing either  in  faiih  or  practice,  for  which  there  can  be  expressly 
produced  a  *'thus  saith  the  Lord":  that  we  ought  not  to  reject  hine 
because  he  cannot  see  wivh  our  eyes  as  to  matters  of  human  infer- 
ence— of  private  judgment.  "Through  thy  knowledge  shall  the  weak 
brother  perish?  How  walketh  thcu  not  charitably?  Thus  we  rea- 
son, thus  we  conclude,  to  make  no  conclusion  of  our  own,  nor  of 
any  other  fallible  fellow  creature,  a  rule  of  faith  or  duty  to  our  br6- 
ther.  Whether  we  refuse  reason,  then,  or  abuse  it,  in  our  so  doing, 
let  our  brethren  judge.  But,  after  all,  we  have  only  ventured  to  sug- 
gest, what,  in  other  words,  the  Apostle  has  expressly  taught : 
namely,  that  the  strong  ought  to  bear  with  the  infirmides  of  the 
weak,  and  not  to  please  themselves.  That  we  ought  to  receive  him 
that  is  weak  in  the  faith,  because  God  has  received  him.  In  i 
word  that  we  ought  to  receive  one  another,  as  Christ  hath  also  re- 
ceived us  to  the  glory  of  God.  We  dare  not  therefore,  patronize  the 
rejection  of  God's  dear  children,  because  they  may  not  be  able  to 
see  alike  in  matters  of  human  uiference — ot  private  opinion  ;  and 
such  we  esteem  all  things,  not  expressly  revealed  and  enjoined  in 
the  word  of  God.  If  otherwise,  we  know  not  what  private  opinion 
means.  On  the  other  hand,  should  our  peacefiil  and  affectionate 
overture  for  union  and  truth,  prove  offensive  to  any  of  our  brethren  ; 
or  occasion  disturbances  in  any  of  the  churches  ;  the  blame  cannot 
be  attached  to  us.  We  have  only  adventured  to  persuade,  and  if 
possible,  to  excite  to  the  performance  of  an  important  duty,  a  duty 
equally  incumbent  upon  us  all.  Neither  have  we  pretended  to  dic- 
tate to  them,  what  they  should  do.  We  have  only  proposed,  what 
appeared  to  Hf"  most  Ukely  to  promote  the  desired  event  ;  humbly 
submitting  the  whole  premises  to  their  candid  and  impartial  inves- 
tigation ;  to  be  altered,  corrected,  and  amended,  as  they  see  cause  j 
or  any  other  plan  adopted  that  may  appear  more  just  and  imexcep- 
tionable.  As  for  om-selves,  we  have  taken  all  due  care,  in  the  mean- 
time to  take  no  step,  that  might  throw  a  stumbling  block  in  the  way  ; 
that  might  prove  now,  or  at  any  future  period,  a  barrier  to  prevent 
the  accomplishment  of  that  most  desirable  object  ;  either  by  join- 
ing to  support  a  party  ;  or  by  patronizing  any  thing  as  articles  of 
faith  or  duty,  not  expressly  revealed  and  enjoined  in  the  divine 
standard  ;  as  we  are  sure,  whatever  alterations  may  take  place,  that 
will  stand.  And  that  considerable  alterations  must  and  w^ill  take 
place  in  the  standard  of  all  the  churches,  before  that  glorious  ob- 
ject can  be  accomplished,  no  man,  that  duly  considers  the  matter, 
can  possibly  doubt.  In  so  far  then,  we  have  at  least,  endeavoured 
to  act  consistently  ;  and  with  the  same  consistency  would  desire  to 
be  instrumental  in  erecting  as  many  churches  as  possible,  through- 
out the  desolate  places  in  God's  heritage,  upon  the  same  catholic 
foundation  ;  being  well  persuaded,  that  every  such  erection  will, 
not  only  in  the  issue,  prove  an  accession  to  the  general  cause  ;  but 
will  also,  in  the  mean  time,  be  a  step  towards  it ;  and  of  course. 


27 


will  reap  the  first  fruits  of  that  blissful  harvest,  that  will  fill  the 
face  of  the  world  with  fruit.  For,  if  the  first  christian  churches 
walking  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  in  holy  unity  and  unanimity,  en- 
joyed the  comforts  of  the  Hcly  Ghost,  and  were  increased  and  edi- 
fied ;  we  have  reason  to  believe,  that  walking  in  their  footsteps  will 
jvcry  where,  and  at  all  times,  ensure  the  same  blessed  privileges. 
And  it  is  in  an  exact  conformity  to  their  recorded  and  approved  ex- 
ample, that  we  through  grace,  would  be  desirious  to  promote  the 
erection  of  churches  :  and  this  v/e  believe  to  be  quite  practicable,  if 
the  legible  and  authentic  records  of  their  faith  and  practice  be  han- 
ded down  to  us  upon  the  page  of  New  Testament  scripture  :  but 
if  otherwise,  we  cannot  help  it — Yet  even  in  this  case,  might  we  not 
humbly  presume,  that  the  Lord  would  take  the  will  for  the  deed  ; 
for  if  there  be  first  a  willing  mind,  we  are  told,  it  is  accepted,  ac- 
cording to  what  a  man  hath,  and  not  according  to  what  he  hath  not. 
It  would  appear,  then,  that  sincerely  and  humbly  adopting  this  model 
with  an  entire  reliance  upon  promised  grace,  we  cannot,  we  shall 
not,  be  disappointed.  By  this  at  least,  we  shall  get  rid  of  two  great 
evils,  which  we  fear,  are  at  this  day,  grievously  provoking  the  Lord 
to  plead  a  controversy  with  the  churches  ;  we  mean  the  taking,  and 
giving  of  unjust  offences  ;  judging  and  rejecting  each  other,  in 
matters  wherin  the  Lord  hath  nor  judged  ;  in  a  flat  contradiction  to 
his  expressly  revealed  will.  But  according  to  the  principle  adopted, 
we  can  neither  take  offence  at  our  brother  for  his  private  opinions, 
if  he  be  content  to  hold  them  as  such  ;  nor  yet  offend  him  with 
ours,  if  he  do  not  usurp  the  place  of  the  lawgiver  ;  and  even  suppose 
he  should,  in  this  case  we  judge  him,  not  for  his  opinions,  but  for  his 
presumption.  "There  is  one  lawgiver,  who  is  able  to  save,  and  to 
destroy  :  who  art  thou  that  judgest  another?"  But  farther,  to  pre- 
vent mistakes,  we  beg  leave,  to  explain  our  meaning  in  a  sentence 
or  two,  which  might  possibly  be  misunderstood.  In  page  first,  we  say, 
that  no  man  has  a  right  to  judge  his  brother  ;  except  in  so  far  as  he 
manifestly  violates  the  express  letter  of  the  law.  By  the  law  here, 
and  elsewhere,  when  taken  in  this  latitude,  we  mean  that  whole  re- 
velation of  faith  and  duty,  expressly  declared  in  the  divine  word, 
taken  together,  or  in  its  due  connexion,  upon  every  article  :  and 
not  any  detached  sentence.  We  understand  it  as  extending  to  all 
prohibitions,  as  well  as  to  all  requirements.  "Add  thou  not  unto 
his  words,  lest  he  reprove  thee,  and  thou  be  found  a  liar."  We  dare 
therefore  neither  do,  nor  receive  any  thing,  as  of  divine  obligation, 
for  which  there  cannot  be  expressly  produced  a  "thus  saith  the 
Lord"  either  in  express  terms,  or  by  approved  precedent.  According 
to  this  rule  we  judge,  and  beyond  it  we  dare  not  go.  Taking  this  sen- 
timent in  connexion  with  the  last  clause  of  the  fifth  resolution  ;  we 
are  to  be  understood,  of  all  matters  of  faith  and  practice,  of  prima- 
ry and  universal  obligation  ;  that  is  to  say,  of  express  revelation  : 
that  nothing  be  inculcated  as  such,  for  which  there  cannot  be  ex- 
pressly produced  a  "thus  saith  the  Lord"  as  above  ;  without,  at 
the  same  time,  interfering  directly  or  indirectly,  with   the  private 


28 


judgment  of  any  individual,  which  does  not  expressly  contradict  the 
express  letter  of  the  law,  or  add  to  the  number  of  its  institutions. 
Every  sincere  and  upright  christian,  will  understand  and  do  the 
will  of  God,  in  every  instance,  to  the  best  of  his  skill  and  judgment  ; 
but  in  the  application  of  the  general  rule  to  particular  cases,  there 
may,  and  doubtless  will,  be  some  variety  of  opinion  and  practice. 
This  we  see  was  actually  the  case  in  the  apostolic  churches,  with- 
out any  breach  of  christian  unity.  And  if  this  was  the  case,  at  the 
erection  of  the  christian  church  from  amongst  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
may  we  not  reasonably  expect,  that  it  will  be  the  same  at  her  resto- 
ration, from  under  her  long  antichristian  and  sectarian  desolations.'' 
With  a  direct  reference  to  this  state  of  things  ;  and,  as  we  humbly 
think,  in  a  perfect  consistency  with  the  foregoing  explanations, 
have  we  expressed  ourselves  in  page  loth  ;  wherein  we  declare  our- 
selves ready  to  relinquish,  whatever  we  have  hitherto  received  as 
matter  of  faith  or  practice,  not  expressly  taught  and  enjoined  in 
the  word  of  God  ;  so  that  we,  and  our  brethren,  might,  by  this  mu- 
tual condescension,  return  together  to  the  original  constitutional 
unity  of  the  christian  church  ;  and  dwell  together  in  peace  and  cha- 
rity. By  this  proposed  relinquishment,  we  are  to  be  understood,  in 
the  first  instance,  of  our  manner  of  holding  those  things,  and  not 
simply  of  the  things  themselves  :  for  no  man  can  relinquish  his 
opinions  or  practices,  till  once  convinced  that  they  are  wrong  ;  and 
this  he  may  not  be  immediately,  even  supposing  they  were  so.  One 
thing  however,  he  may  do,  when  not  bound  by  an  express  com- 
mand, he  need  not  impose  them  upon  others,  by  any  wise  requiring 
their  approbation  ;  and  when  this  is  done,  the  things,  to  them,  are 
as  good  as  dead  ;  yea,  as  good  as  buried  too  ;  being  thus  removed 
out  of  the  way.  Has  not  the  Apostle  set  us  a  noble  example  of 
this,  in  his  pious  and  charitable  zeal  for  the  comfort  and  ediiication 
of  his  brother,  in  declaring  himself  ready  to  forgo  his  rights  (not 
indeed  to  break  commandments)  rather  than  stumble,  or  offend, 
his  brother?  And  who  knows  not,  that  the  Hebrew  christians  ab- 
stained from  certain  meats,  observed  certain  days — kept  the  passo- 
vcr,  circumcised  their  children,  &c,  &c. — while  no  such  things  were 
practised  by  the  Gentile  converts  : — and  yet  no  breach  of  unity, 
while  they  charitably  forbore  one  with  the  other.  But  had  the 
Jews  been  expressly  prohibited,  or  the  Gentiles  expressly  enjoined, 
by  the  authority  of  Jesus,  to  observe  these  things  ;  could  they,  in 
such  a  case,  have  lawfiilly  exercised  this  forbearance?  But  where 
no  express  law  is,  there  can  be  no  formal,  no  intentional  transgres- 
sion ;  although  its  implicit  and  necessary  consequences  had 
forbid  the  thing,  had  they  been  discovered.  Upon  the  whole,  we 
see  one  thing  is  evident  ;  the  Lord  will  bear  with  the  weaknesses, 
the  involuantary  ignorances,  and  mistakes  of  his  people  ;  though 
not  with  their  presumption.  Ought  they  not,  therefore,  to  bear 
with  each  other — "to  preserve  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
peace  ;  forbearing  one  with  another  in  love" — What  saith  the  scrip- 
ture?   We  say,  then,  the  declaration  referred  to,  is  to  be  thus  un- 


29 


derstood,  in  the  first  instance  ;  though  we  do  not  say,  but  sometning 
farther  is  intended.  For  certainly  we  may  lawfiilly  suspend  both 
declaration  and  practice  upon  any  subject,  where  the  law  is  sOent  : 
when  to  do  otherwise  must  prevent  tlie  accomplishment  of  an  ex- 
pressly commanded,  and  highly  important  duty  :  and  such,  con- 
fessedly, is  the  thing  in  question.  What  saith  the  Apostle?  "All 
things  are  lawful  for  me  :  but  all  things  arc  not  expedient.  All 
things  are  lawfiil  for  me  ;  but  all  things  edify  not."  It  seems,  then, 
that  amongst  lawfiil  things,  which  might  be  forborne  ;  that  is,  as  we 
humbly  conceive,  things  not  expressly  commanded  ;  the  govering 
principle  of  the  Apostle's  conduct  was  the  edification  of  his  breth- 
ren of  the  church  of  God.  A  divine  principle  this,  indeed!  May 
the  Lord  God  infuse  it  into  all  his  people.  Where  all  those  nonpre- 
ceptive  opinions  and  practises,  which  have  been  maintained  and  ex- 
alted to  the  destruction  of  the  church's  unity,  counterbalance  with 
the  breach  of  the  express  law  of  Christ,  and  the  black  catalogue  of 
mischiefs  which  have  necessarily  ensued  ;  on  which  side,  think  you, 
would  be  the  preponderance?  When  weighed  in  the  balance  with 
this  monstrous  complex  evil,  would  they  not  all  appear  lighter 
than  vanity?  Who  then  would  not  relinquish  a  cent  to  obtain  a  king- 
dom !  And  here  let  it  be  noted,  that  it  is  not  the  renunciation  of  an 
opinion  or  practice  as  sinful,  that  is  proposed  or  intended  ;  but  mere- 
ly a  cessation  from  the  publishing  or  preaching  of  it,  so  as  to  give 
offence  ;  a  thing  men  are  in  the  habits  of  doing  every  day  for  their 
private  comfort,  or  secular  emolument  ;  where  the  advantage  is  of 
infinitely  less  importance.  Neither  is  there  here  any  clashing  of 
duties,  as  if  to  forbear  was  a  sin,  and  also  to  practise  was  a  sin  ; 
the  thing  to  be  forborne  being  a  matter  of  private  opinion,  which, 
though  not  expressly  forbidden,  yet  are  we,  by  no  means,  express- 
ly commanded  to  practise, — Whereas  we  are  expressly  command- 
ed to  endeavor  to  maintain  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
peace.  And  what  saith  the  Apostle  to  the  point  in  hand?,  "Hast 
thou  faith,  saith  he,  have  it  to  thyself  before  God.  Happy  is  the 
man,  that  condemneth  not  himself,  in  the  thing  which  he  alloweth." 

It  may  be  farther  added,  that  a  still  higher  and  more  perfect  de- 
gree of  uniformity  is  intended,  though  neither  in  the  first  nor  second 
instance,  which  arc  but  so  many  steps  toward  it  ;  namely,  the  ut- 
ter abolition  of  those  minor  differences,  which  have  been  greatly 
increased,  as  well  as  continued,  by  our  unhappy  manner  of  treating 
them  ;  in  making  them  the  subject  of  perpetual  strife  and  conten- 
tion. Many  of  the  opinions  which  are  now  dividing  the  church, 
rad  they  been  let  alone,  would  have  been,  long  since,  dead  and  gone  ; 
l"Ut  the  constant  insisting  upon  them,  as  articles  of  faith  and  terms 
Oi  salvation,  have  so  beat  them  into  the  minds  of  men,  that,  in  ma- 
vy  iniiances,  they  would  as  soon  deny  the  Bible  itself,  as  give  up 
with  one  of  those  opinions.  Having  thus  embraced  contentions, 
and  preferred  divisions  to  that  constitutional  unity,  peace  and  charity, 
so  essential  to  Christianity  :  it  would  appear,  that  the  Lord,  in  right- 
eous judgment,  has  abandoned  his  professing  people  to  the  awful 


3° 


scourge  ot  ttiose  evils  ;  as  in  an  instance  somewhat  similar,  he  for- 
merly did  his  highly  favored  Israel.  "My  people,  saith  he,  would 
not  hearken  to  my  voice.  So  I  gave  them  up  to  their  own  hearts 
lusts,  and  they  walked  in  their  own  counsels."  "Israel  hath  made 
many  altars  to  sin  :  therefore  altars  shall  be  unto  him  to  sin."  Thus, 
then,  are  we  to  be  consistently  understood,  as  fully  and  fairly  inten- 
ding, on  our  part,  what  we  have  declared  and  proposed  to  our  breth- 
ren, as,  to  our  apprehension,  incumbent  upon  them  and  us,  for  put- 
ting an  end  forever,  to  our  sad  and  lamentable  schisms.  Should 
any  object  and  say,  that  after  all,  the  fullest  compliance  with  every 
thing  proposed  and  intended,  would  not  restore  the  church  to  the 
desired  unity,  as  there  might  still  remain  difference  of  opinion  and 
practice.  Let  such  but  duly  consider,  what  properly  belongs  to  the 
unity  of  the  church,  and  we  are  persuaded,  this  objection  will  vanish. 
Does  not  the  visible  scripural  unity  of  the  christian  church  consist 
in  the  unity  of  her  public  profession  and  practice  ;  and, '  under 
this,  in  the  manflest  charity  of  her  members,  one  toward  another  ; 
and  not  in  the  unity  of  the  private  opinion  and  practice  of  every  in- 
dividual.? Was  not  this  evidently  the  case  in  the  Apostle's  days,  as 
has  been  already  observed?  If  so  the  objection  falls  to  the  ground. 
And  here,  let  it  be  noted,  (if  the  hint  be  at  all  necessary,)  that  we  are 
speaking  of  the  unity  of  the  church  considered  as  a  great  visible 
profossing  bodv,  consisting  of  many  co-ordinate  associations  ;  each 
of  these,  in  its  aggregate  or  associate  capacity,  walking  by  the  same 
rule,  professing  and  practising  the  same  things.  That  this  visible 
scriptural  unity  be  preserved,  without  corruption,  or  breach  of  cha- 
rity throughout  the  whole  ;  and  in  every  particular  worshipping 
society,  or  church  ;  is  the  grand  desideratum — the  thing  strictly 
enjoined  and  greatly  to  be  desired.  An  agreement  in  the  expressly 
revealed  will  of  God,  is  the  adequate  and  firm  foundation  of  this 
unity  ;  ardent  prayer,  accompanied  with  prudent  peaceable,  and 
persevering  exertion,  in  the  use  of  all  scriptural  means  for  accom- 
plishing it,  are  the  things  humbly  suggested,  and  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  our  brethren.  If  we  have  mistaken  the  way,  their  cha- 
rity will  put  us  right  :  but  if  otherwise,  their  fidelity  to  Christ  and 
his  cause  will  excite  them  to  come  forth  speedily,  to  assist  with  us 
in  his  blessed  work. 

After  all,  should  any  impeach  us  with  the  vague  charge  of  Lati- 
tudinarianism  (let  none  be  startled  at  this  gigiantic  term)  it  will 
prove  as  feeble  an  opponent  to  the  glorious  cause  in  which  we,  how- 
ever weak  and  unworthy,  are  professedly  engaged,  as  the  Zamzum- 
mins  did  ot  old,  to  prevent  the  children  of  Lot  from  taking  posses- 
sion of  their  inheritance.  If  we  take  no  greater  latitude  than  the 
divine  law  allows,  either  in  judging  of  persons  or  doctrines — either 
in  profession,  or  practice  (and  this  is  the  very  thing  we  humbly  pro- 
pose and  sincerely  intend)  may  we  not  reasonably  hope,  that  such  a 
latitude  will  appear  to  every  upright  christian,  perfectly  innocent 
and  unexceptionable?  If  this  be  LatitudLnarianism,  it  must  be  a 
good  thing — and  therefore  the  more  we  have  of  it  the  better ;  and 


may  be  it  is,  for  we  are  told  "the  commandment  is  exceeding 
broad  ;"  and  we  intend  to  go  just  as  tar  as  it  will  suffer  us,  but  not 
one  hair's  breadth  farther — so,  at  least,  says  our  profession.  And 
surely  it  will  be  time  enough  to  condemn  our  practice,  when  it  ap- 
pears manifestly  inconsistent  with  the  profession,  we  have  thus  pre- 
cisely and  explicitly  made.  We  here  refer  to  the  whole  of  the 
foregoing  premises.  But  were  this  word  as  bad  as  it  is  long  :  were 
it  stuffed  with  evil  from  beginning  to  end  ;  may  be,  it  better  belongs 
to  those,  that  brandish  it  so  unmercifully  at  their  neighbors  ;  espe- 
cially if  they  take  a  greater  latitude  than  their  neighbours  do  ;  or 
than  the  divine  law  allows.  Let  the  case,  then,  be  fairly  sub- 
mitted to  all  that  know  their  Bible — to  all  that  take  upon  them  to 
see  with  their  own  eyes — to  judge  for  themselves.  And  here  let 
it  be  observed  once  for  all,  that  it  is  only  to  such  we  direct  our  at- 
tention in  the  foregoing  pages.  As  for  those  that  either  cannot,  or 
will  not  see  and  judge  for  themselves,  they  must  be  content  to  fol- 
low their  leaders,  till  they  come  to  their  eyesight  ;  or  determine  to 
make  use  of  the  faculties,  and  means  of  information,  which  God 
has  given  them  :  with  such,  in  the  mean  time,  it  would  be  useless 
to  reason  ;  seeing  that  they  either  confessedly  cannot  see  ;  or  have 
completely  resigned  themselves  to  the  conduct  of  their  leaders  ;^ 
and  are  therefore  determined  to  harken  to  none  but  them.  Ir 
there  be  none  such,  however,  we  are  happOy  deceived  :  but  if  so 
we  are  not  the  only  persons  that  are  thus  deceived  ;  for  this  is  the 
common  fault  objected  by  almost  all  the  parties  to  each  other,  viz, 
that  they  either  cannot,  or  will  not  see  ;  and  it  would  be  hard  to 
think,  they  were  all  mistaken  :  the  fewer  there  be,  however,  of  this 
description  the  better.  To  all  those,  then,  that  are  disposed  to  see 
and  think  for  themselves,  to  form  their  judgment  by  the  divine 
word  itself,  and  not  by  any  human  explication  of  it — humbly  rely- 
ing upon  and  looking  for,  the  promised  assistance  of  divine  teach- 
ing ;  and  not  barely  trusting  to  their  own  understanding. — To  all 
such  do  we  gladly  commit  our  cause  ;  being  persuaded,  that,  at 
least  they  will  give  it  a  very  serious  and  impartial  consideration  ; 
as  being  truly  desirious  to  know  the  truth.  To  you,  then,  we  appeal 
in  the  present  instance,  as  we  have  also  done  from  the  beginning. 
Say,  we  beseech  you,  to  whom  does  the  charge  of  Latitudinarianism 
when  taken  in  a  bad  sense  (for  we  have  supposed  it  may  betaken 
in  a  good  »ense)  most  truly  and  properly  belong.  Whether  to  those 
that  will  neither  add  nor  diminish  any  thing,  as  to  matter  of  faith 
and  duty  ;  either  to  or  from,  what  is  expressly  revealed  and  en- 
joined in  the  holy  scriptures  :  or  to  those  who  pretend  to  go  farther 
than  this  ;  or  to  set  aside  some  of  its  expressed  declarations  and  in- 
junctions to  make  way  for  their  own  opinions,  inferences,  and  con- 
clusions? Whether  to  those  who  profess  their  willingness  to  hold 
communion  with  their  acknowledged  christian  brethren,  when  they 
neither  manifestly  oppose  nor  contradict  any  thing  expressly  re- 
vealed and  enjoined  in  the  sacred  standard  :  or  to  those  who  reject 
such,  when  professing  to  believe  and  practise  whatever  is  expressly 


32 


revealed  and  enjoined  therein  ;   without,  at  the  same  time  being 

alledged,  much  les3  found  guilty,  of  anything  to  the  contrary  :  but 
instead  of  this,  asserting  and  declaring  their  hearty  assent  and  con- 
sent to  every  thing,  for  which  there  can  be  expcrssly  produced  a  "thus 
saith  the  Lord,"  either  in  express  terms,  or  by  approved  precedent. 
To  which  of  these,  think  y,  does  the  odious  charge  of  Latinidan- 
arianism  belong?  Which  of  them  takes  the  greatest  latitude? 
Whether  those  that  expressly  judge  and  condemn  where  they  have 
no  express  warrant  for  so  doing  ;  or  those  that  absolutely  rehise  so 
to  do?  And  we  can  assure  our  brethren,  that  such  things  are,  and 
have  been  done,  to  our  own  certain  knowledge  ;  and  even  where 
we  least  expected  it  :  and  that  it  is  to  this  discovery,  as  much  as  to 
many  other  things,  that  we  stand  indebted  for  that  thorough  convic- 
tion of  the  evil  state  of  things  in  the  churches,  which  has  given  rise 
to  our  association.  As  for  our  part,  we  dare  no  longer  give  our  as- 
sent to  such  proceedings ;  we  dare  no  longer  concur  in  expressly 
asserting,  or  declaring,  any  thing  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  that  he 
has  not  expressly  declared  in  his  holy  word.  And  until  such  time 
as  christians  come  to  see  the  evil  of  doing  otherwise,  we  see  no  ra- 
tional ground  to  hope,  that  there  can  be  either  unity,  peace,  pvuity 
or  prosperity,  in  the  church  of  God.  Convinced  of  the  truth  of 
this,  we  would  humbly  desire  to  be  instrumental  in  pointing  out  to 
our  fellow  christians  the  evils  of  such  conduct.  And,  if  we  might 
venture  to  give  our  opinion  of  such  proceedings,  we  would  not  hesi- 
tate to  say,  that  they  appear  to  include  three  great  e\Tls — evils  truly 
great  in  themselves,  and  at  the  same  time  productive  of  most  evil 
consequences. 

First,  to  determine  expressly,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  when  the 
Lord  has  not  expressly  determined,  appears  to  us  a  very  great  evil  : 
see  Deut.  x\'iii — 20.  "The  prophet  that  shall  presume  to  speak  a 
word  in  my  name,  which  I  have  not  commanded  him  to  speak — even 
that  prophet  shall  die."  The  Apostle  Paul,  no  doubt,  well  aware 
of  this,  cautiously  distinguishes  betwixt  his  own  judgment  and  the 
express  injunctions  of  the  Lord  ;  See  1st  Cor.  7,  25  and  40.  Though 
at  the  same  time,  it  appears  that  he  was  as  well  convinced  of  the 
truth  and  propriety  of  his  declarations,  and  of  the  concurrence  of  the 
holy  spirit  with  his  judgment,  as  any  of  our  modern  determiners  may 
be  ;  for  "I  think  saith  he  that  I  have  the  spirit  of  God  :"  and  we  doubt 
much,  if  the  best  of  them  would  honesdy  say  more  than  this  :  yet  we 
see,  that  with  all  this,  he  would  not  bind  the  church  with  his  conclusi- 
ons ;  and  for  this  very  reason,  as  he  expressly  tells  us,  because, 
as  to  the  matter  on  hand,  he  had  no  commandment  of  the  Lord. 
He  spoke  by  permission  and  not  by  commandment,  as  one  that  had 
obtained  mercy  to  be  faithfiil — and  therefore  would  not  forge  his 
master's  name  by  affixing  it  to  his  own  conclusions  ;  saying,  "The 
Lord  saith,  when  the  Lord  had  not  spoken." 

A  second  evil  is,  not  Fonly  judging  our  brother  to  be  absolutely 
wrong,  because  he  differs  from  cur  opinions  but,  more  especially, 
our  judging  him  to  be  a  transgressor  of  the  law  in  so  doing  :  and 


33 


of  course  treating  him  as  such,  by  censuring,  or  otherwise  exposing 
him  to  contempt  ;  or,  at  least,  preferring  ourselves  before  him  in 
our  own  judgment  ;  saying,  as  it  were,  stand  by,  I  am  holier  than 
thou. 

A  third  and  still  more  dreadfiil  evil  is,  when  we  not  only,  in  this 
kind  of  way,  judge  and  set  at  nought  our  brother  ;  but,  moreover 
proceed  as  a  church,  acting  and  judging  in  the  name  of  Christ  ; 
not  only  to  determine  that  our  brother  is  wrong,  because  he  differs 
from  our  determinations  :  but  also  in  connexion  with  this,  proceed 
so  far  as  to  determine  the  merits  of  the  cause  by  rejecting  him,  or 
casting  him  out  of  the  church,  as  unworthy  of  a  place  in  her 
communion  ; — and  thus,  as  far  as  in  our  power,  cutting  him  off 
from  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  In  proceeding  thus,  we  not  only 
declare,  that,  in  our  judgment,  our  brother  is  in  an  error  ;  which 
we  may  sometimes  'do  in  a  perfect  consistency  with  charity  :  but  v/e 
also  take  upon  us  to  judge,  as  acting  in  the  name  and  by  the  autho- 
rity of  Christ,  that  his  error  cuts  him  off  from  salvation  ;  that 
continuing  such  he  has  no  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  Christ 
and  of  God.  If  not,  what  means  our  refusing  him — or  casting 
him.  out  of  the  church,  which  is  the  kingdom  of  God  in  this  world.? 
For  certainly  if  a  person  have  no  right,  according  to  the  Divine 
Word,  to  a  place  in  the  church  of  God  upon  earth,  (which  we  say, 
he  has  not,  by  thus  rejecting  him)  he  can  have  none  to  a  place  Ln 
the  church  in  heaven — unless  we  should  suppose,  that  those  whom 
Christ  by  his  word  rejects  here,  he  will  nevertheless  receive  here- 
after. And  surely  it  is  by  the  word  that  every  church  pretends 
to  judge  ;  and  it  is  by  this  rule,  in  the  case  before  us,  that  the 
person  in  the  judgment  of  the  church  stands  rejected.  Now  is 
not  this  to  all  intents  and  purposes  determining  the  merits  of  the 
cause?  Do  we  not  conclude  that  the  person's  error  cuts  him  off 
from  all  ordinary  possibility  of  salvation,  by  thus  cutting  him  off 
from  a  place  in  the  church,  out  of  which  there  is  no  ordinary 
possibility  of  salvation?  Does  he  not  henceforth  become  to  us  as  a 
heathen  man  and  a  publican?  Is  he  not  reckoned  amongst  the 
number  of  those  that  are  without,  whom  God  judgeth?  If  not, 
what  means  such  a  solemn  determination?  Is  it  any  thing,  or  is  it 
nothing,  for  a  person  to  stand  rejected  by  the  church  of  God?  If 
such  rejection  confessedly  leave  the  man  stOl  in  the  same  safe  and 
hopeful  state,  as  to  his  spiritual  interests  ;  then  indeed,  it  becomes 
a  matter  of  mere  indifference  ;  for  as  to  his  civil  and  natural  privi- 
leges, it  interferes  not  with  them.  But  the  scripture  gives  us  a 
very  different  view  of  the  matter  ;  for  there  we  see,  that  those 
that  stand  justly  rejected  by  the  church  on  earth,  have  no  room  to 
hope  for  a  place  in  the  cherch  in  heaven.  "What  ye  bind  on  earth 
shall  be  bound  in  heaven"  is  the  awful  sanction  of  the  churches 
judgment,  in  justly  rejecting  any  person.  Take  away  this,  and  it 
has  no  sanction  at  all.  But  the  church  rejecting,  always  pretends 
to  have  acted  justly  in  so  doing  ;  and  if  so,  whereabouts  does  it 
confessedly  leave  the  person  rejected,  if  not  in  a  state  of  damna- 

E 


34 


tion  ;  that  is  to  say,  if  k  acknowledge  itself  to  be  a  church  oi 
Christ,  and  to  have  acted  justly.  If  after  all,  any  particular  church 
acting  thus,  should  refuse  the  foregoing  conclusion,  by  saying,  we 
meant  no  such  thing  concerning  the  person  rejected — we  only 
judged  him  unworthy  of  a  place  amongst  us;  and  therefore  put 
him  away  ;  but  there  are  other  churches  that  may  receive  him. 
We  would  be  almost  tempted  to  ?-sk  such  a  church,  if  those  other 
churches  be  churches  of  Christ  ;  and  if  so,  pray  what  does  it  ac- 
count itself?  Is  it  anything  more  or  better  than  a  church  of  Christ? 
And,  whether  if  those  other  churches  do  their  duty,  as  faithful 
churches,  any  of  them  would  receive  the  person  it  had  rejected? 
If  it  be  answered,  that,  in  aciuig  faithfully,  none  of  those  other 
churches  either  could,  or  would  receive  him  ;  then,  confessedly, 
in  the  judgment  of  this  particular  church,  the  person  ought  to  be 
universally  rejected  :  but,  Lf  otherwise,  it  condemns  itself  of 
having  acted  unfaithfiiUy,  nay,  cruelly  towards  a  christian  brother, 
a  child  of  God  ;  Ln  thus  rejecting  him  from  the  heritage  of  the 
Lord  ;  in  thus  cutting  him  off  from  his  father's  house  as  the  un- 
natural brethren  did  the  beloved  Joseph.  But  even  suppose  some 
one  or  other  of  those  unfaithflil  churches  should  receive  the  out- 
cast, would  their  unfaithfulness  in  so  doing  nullify,  in  the  judgment 
of  this  more  faithful  church,  its  just  and  faithful  decision  in  reject- 
ing him?  If  not,  then,  confessedly,  in  its  judgment,  the  person 
still  remains  under  the  influence  of  its  righteous  sentence,  debarred 
from  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  that  is  to  say,  if  it  believe  the 
scriptures,  that  Vi'hat  it  has  righteously  done  upon  earth,  is  ratified 
in  heaven.  We  see  no  way,  that  a  church  acting  thus,  can  possibly 
get  rid  of  this  an'ful  cojiclusion ;  except  it  acknowledges  that  the 
person  it  has  rejected  from  its  communion,  still  has  a  right  to  the 
communion  of  the  church  ;  but  if  it  acknowledge  this — wherea- 
bouts does  it  leave  itself,  in  thus  shutting  out  a  fellow-christian,  an 
acknowledged  brother,  a  child  of  God!  !  Do  we  find  any  parallel 
for  such  conduct  in  the  inspired  records,  except  in  the  case  of 
Diotrephes,  of  whom  the  Apostle  says,  "who  loveth  to  have  the 
pre-emience  among  them,  receiveth  us  not — prating  against  us 
with  malicious  words,  and  not  content  therewith,  neither  doth  he 
himself  receive  the  brethren,  and  forbiddeth  them  that  would,  and 
casteth  them  out  of  the  church." 

But  farther,  suppose  another  church  should  receive  this  casta- 
way, this  person,  which  this  faithful  church  supposed  itself  to  have 
righteously  rejected  :  would  not,  the  church  so  doing,  incur  the 
displeasure,  nay,  even  the  censure,  of  the  church  that  had  rejected 
him?  and,  we  should  think  justly  too,  if  he  deserved  to  be  rejected. 
And  would  not  this  naturally  produce  a  schism  betwixt  the  churches? 
Or,  if  it  be  supposed  that  a  schism  did  already  exist,  would  not 
this  manifestly  tend  to  perpetuate  and  increase  it?  If  one  church 
receiving  those,  whom  another  puts  away,  will  not  be  productive  of 
schism,  we  must  confess,  we  cannot  tell  what  would.  That  church, 
therefore  must  siu-ely  act  very  schismatically — very  unlike  a  church 


35 


of  Christ,  which  necessarily  pre-supposes,  or  produces  schism,  in 
order  to  shield  an  oppressed  lc!!o\v-christian,  from  the  dreadful 
consequences  of  its  unrighteous  proceedings.  And  is  not  this  con- 
fessedly the  case  with  every  church,  which  rejects  a  person  from 
its  communion,  while  it  acknowledges  him  to  be  a  fellow-christian  ; 
and  in  order  to  excuse  this  piece  of  cruelty,  says,  he  may  find 
refuge  some  pkce  else  ;  some  other  church  may  receive  him? 
For  as  we  have  already  observed,  if  no  schism  did  already  exist, 
one  church  receiving  those  whom  another  has  rejected,  must  cer- 
tainly make  one.  The  same  evils  also  will  zs  justly  attach  to  the 
conduct  of  an  individual,  who  refuses,  or  breaks  communion  with 
a  chuich,  because  it  will  not  receive,  or  make  room  for,  his  private 
opinions,  or  self-devised  practices,  in  its  public  profession  and  ma- 
nagements— for,  does  he  not,  in  this  case,  actually  take  upon  him 
to  judge  the  church,  which  he  thus  rejects,  as  unworthy  of  the 
communion  of  christians?  And  is  not  this  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses declaring  it,  in  his  judgment,  excommunicate  ;  or  at  least 
worthy  of  excommunication? 

Thus  have  we  briefly  endeavored  to  shew  our  brethren,  what 
evidently  appears  to  us  to  be  the  heinous  nature  and  dreadfijl  conse- 
quences of  that  truly  latitudinarian  principal  and  practice,  which  is 
the  bitter  root  of  almost  all  our  divisions ,  namely,  the  imposing  of 
our  private  opinions  upon  each  other,  as  articles  of  faith  or  duty  ; 
introducing  them  into  the  public  profession  and  practice  of  the 
church,  and  acting  upon  them,  as  if  they  were  the  express  law  of 
Christ,  by  judging  and  rejecting  our  brethren  that  differ  with  us  in 
those  things  ;  or,  at  least,  by  so  retaining  them  in  our  public  pro- 
fession and  practice,  that  our  brethren  cannot  join  with  us,  or  we 
with  them,  without  becoming  actually  partakers  of  those  things, 
which  they,  or  we,  cannot,  in  conscience  approve  ;  and  which  the 
word  of  God  no  where  expressly  enjoins  upon  us.  To  cease  from 
all  such  things,  by  simply  returning  to  the  original  standard  of 
Christianity — the  profession  and  practice  of  the  primitive  church, 
as  expressly  exhibited  upon  the  sacred  page  of  New  Testament 
scripture,  is  the  only  possible  way,  that  we  can  perceive,  to  get  rid 
of  those  evils.  And  we  humbly  think  that  a  uniform  agreement  in 
that  for  the  preservation  of  charity  would  be  infinately  preferable  t-o 
our  contention  and  divisions  :  nay,  that  such  a  uniformity  is  the 
very  thing  that  the  Lord  requires,  if  the  New  Testament  be  a 
perfect  model — a  sufficient  formula  for  the  worship  disipline  and 
government  of  the  christian  church.  Let  us  do,  as  we  are  there 
expressly  told  ti^ey  did,  say  as  tbey  said  :  that  is,  profess  and  prac- 
tise as  therein  expressly  enjoined  by  precept  and  precedent,  in 
every  possible  instance,  after  tbeir  approved  example  ;  and  in  so 
doing  we  shall  realize,  and  exhibit,  all  that  unity  and  uniformity,! 
that  the  primative  church  possessed,  or  that  the  law  of  Christ  re-' 
quires.  But  if  after  all,  our  brethren  can  point  out  a  better  way  to 
regain  and  preserve  that  christian  unity  and  charity  expressly  en- 
joined upon  the  church  of  God,  we  shall  thank  them  for  the  disco- 
very and  cheerfully  embrace  it. 


36 


Should  it  snU  be  irrgei,  t'-s.t  tiiis  would  opei.  a  ■wide  door 
to  ladnidinamniira,  seeing  all  that  profess  christknity,  profess 
to  receive  the  holv  scriprares  ;  and  yet  diner  so  widely  in 
their  religious  sentimeEts.  ^^'e  say,  let  them  proiess  what 
they  will,  their  difference  in  religious  profession  and  practice 
originates  in  their  departure  from  what  is  expressly  revealed  and 
enjoined  ;  and  not  in  their  strict  and  faithful  conformity  to  it — 
which  is  the  thing  we  humbly  advise  for  putting  an  end  to  those 
differences.  But  you  may  say,  do  they  not  already  ail  agree  in  the 
letter,  though  differing  so  far  in  sentiment:  However  this  may  be, 
have  they  all  agreed  to  make  the  letter  their  rule  ;  or  rather  to 
make  it  the  subject  matter  of  their  profession  and  practice?  Sure- 
ly no  ;  or  else  they  would  all  profess  and  practice  the  same  thing. 
Is  it  not  as  evident  as  the  shining  light,  that  the  scripmres  exhibit 
but  one  and  the  self  same  subject  matter  of  profession  and  practice  ; 
at  all  times,  and  in  all  places  ; — and,  that  therefore,  to  say  as  it 
declares,  and  to  do  as  it  prescribes,  in  all  its  holv  precepts,  iza 
approved  and  imitable  examples,  would  unite  the  christian  church 
in  a  holy  sameness  of  protession  and  practice,  throughout  the  whole 
world?  By  the  christian  church  throughout  the  world,  we  mean 
the  aggregate  of  such  professors,  as  we  have  described  in  props.  I 
and  8  th,  page  47  ;  even  all  that  mutually  acknowledge  each  other 
as  christiarLS,  upon  the  manifest  evidence  of  their  faith,  holiness, 
and  charity.  It  is  such  only  we  intend,  when  we  urge  the  necessity 
of  christian  unity.  Had  only  such  been  all  along  recognized,  as 
the  genuine  subjects  of  our  holy  religion,  there  would  not,  in  all 
probability,  have  been  so  much  apparent  need  for  human  formulas, 
to  preserve  an  external  formaliT}'  of  professional  unitv,  and  sound- 
ness in  the  faith  :  but  artificial  and  superficious  characters  need 
artificial  means  to  train  and  unite  them.  A  manifest  attachment  to 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  faith,  holiness,  and  charity,  was  the  origi- 
nal criterion  of  christian  character — the  distinguishing  badge  of 
our  holy  profession — ^the  foundation  and  cement  of  christian  unity. 
But  now,  alas!  *and  long  since,  an  external  name — a  mere  educa- 
tional formaiiry  of  sameness  in  the  profession  of  a  certain  standard, 
or  formula  of  human  fabric,  with  a  very  moderate  degree  of,  what 
is  called,  morality  ;  forms  the  bond  and  foundation — the  root  and 
reason,  of  ecclesiastical  tmity.  Take  away  from  such  the  technia. 
of  their  profession — the  shiboleth  of  parry  ;  and  what  have  they 
more?  What  have  they  left  to  distinguish,  and  hold  them  together? 
As  for  the  Bible,  they  are  but  little  beholden  to  it ;  they  have 
learned  little  from  it ;  they  know  little  about  it ;  and  therefore  de- 
pend as  little  upon  it.  Nay,  they  will  even  tell  you,  it  would  be  of 
DO  use  to  them  vrithout  their  formula  ;  they  could  not  know  a  Papst 
from  a  Protestant  by  //,•  that  merely  by  ;V,  they  could  neither  keep 
themselves  nor  the  chuch  right  for  a  single  week ;  you  might 
preach  to  them  what  you  please  ;  they  could  not  distinguish  truth 
from  error.  Poor  people!  it  is  no  wonder  they  are  so  fond  of  their 
formula.      Therefore  they  that  exercise  authority  upon  them,  and 


37 


tell  them  what  they  are  to  believe,  and  what  they  are  to  do,  are 
called  benefactors.  These  are  the  reverend,  and  right  reverend 
authors,  upon  whom  they  can,  and  do,  place  a  more  entire  and 
implicit  confidence,  than  upon  the  holy  Apostles  and  Phrophets  ; 
those  plain,  honest,  unassuming  men,  who  would  never  venture  to 
say,  or  do,  any  thing,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  without  an  express 
revelation  from  heaven  ;  and,  therefore,  were  never  distinguished 
by  the  venerable  titles  of  rabbi,  or  reverend  ;  but  just  simply 
Paul,  John,  Thomas,  &c.  These  were  but  servants.  They  did 
not  assume  to  legislate  ;  and  therefore  neither  assumed,  nor  receiv- 
ed, any  honory  title  amongst  men  :  but  merely  such  as  were  de- 
scriptive of  their  office.  And  how,  we  beseech  you,  shall  this  gross 
and  prevalent  corruption  be  purged  out  of  the  visible  professing 
church,  but  by  a  radical  reform  ;  but  by  returning  to  the  original 
simplicity,  the  primitive  purity,  of  the  christian  institution  and,  of 
course,  taking  up  things  just  as  we  find  them  upon  the  sacred  page. 
And,  who  is  there,  that  knows  any  thing  of  the  present  state  of 
the  church,  who  does  not  perceive,  that  it  is  greatly  overrun  with 
the  aforesaid  evils?  Or,  who  that  reads  his  Bible,  and  receives  the 
impressions,  it  must  necessarily  produce  upon  the  receptive  mind, 
by  the  statements  it  exhibits  ;  does  not  perceive,  that  such  a  state  of 
things  is  as  distinct  from  genuine  Christianity,  as  oil  is  from  water? 

On  the  other  hand,  is  it  not  equally  as  evident,  that  not  one 
of  all  the  erroneous  tenets,  and  corrupt  practices,  which  have 
so  defamed  and  corrupted  the  public  profession  and  practice  of 
Christianity,  could  ever  have  appeared  in  the  world,  had  men  kept 
close  by  the  express  letter  of  the  divine  law — had  they  thus  held 
fast  that  form  of  sound  words  contained  in  the  holy  scriptures,  and 
considered  it  their  duty  so  to  do  : — unless  they  blame  those  errors 
and  corruptions  upon  the  very  form  and  expression  of  the  scrip- 
tures ;  and  say,  that,  taken  in  their  letter  and  connexion,  they 
immediately,  and  at  first  sight,  as  it  were,  exhibit  the  picture  they 
have  drawn.  Should  any  be  so  bold  as  to  assert  this,  let  them  pro- 
duce their  performance,  the  original  is  at  hand  ;  and  let  them  shew 
us  line  for  line  ;  expression  for  expression  ;  precept  and  precedent 
for  practice  ;  without  the  torture  of  criticism,  inference,  or  conjec- 
ture ;  and  then  we  shall  honestly  blame  the  whole  upon  the  Bible  ; 
and  thank  those  that  will  give  us  an  expurged  edition  of  it  ;  call  it 
constitution,  or  formula,  or  what  you  please  ;  that  will  not  be  liable 
to  lead  the  simple  unlettered  world  into  those  gross  mistakes,  those 
contentions,  schisms,  excommunications  and  persecutions,  which 
have  proved  so   detrimental  and  scandalous  to  our  holy  religion. 

Should  it  be  farther  objected,  that  even  this  strict  literal  unifor- 
mity would  neither  infer,  nor  secure  unity  of  sentiment. — It  is  gran- 
ted, that,  in  a  certain  degree,  it  would  not  ;  nor,  indeed,  is  there  any 
thing,  either  in  scripture,  or  the  nature  of  things,  that  should 
induce  us  to  expect  an  entire  unity  of  sentiment,  in  the  preser 
imperfect  state.  The  church  may,  and  we  believe  will,  come  to 
0uch  a  scriptural  unity  of  faith  and  practice,  that  there  will  be  no 


38 


schism  m  the  body  ;  no  self-preferring  sect  of  professed  and  ac- 
knowledged christians,  rejecting  and  excluding  their  brethren. 
This  cannot  be,  however,  till  the  offensive  and  excluding  causes  be 
removed  ;  and  every  one  knows  what  these  are.  But  that  all  the 
members  should  have  the  same  identical  views  of  all  divinely  re- 
vealed truths  ;  or  that  there  should  be  no  difference  of  opinion 
among  them,  appears  to  us  morally  impossible,  all  things  consi- 
dered. Nor  can  we  conceive,  what  desirable  purpose  such  a  vmity 
of  sentiment  would  serve  :  except  to  render  useless  some  of  those 
gracious,  self-denying,  and  compassionate  precepts  of  mutual 
sympathy  and  forbearance,  which  the  word  of  God  enjoins  upon  his 
people.  Such,  then,  is  the  imperfection  of  our  present  state — 
Would  to  God  it  might  prove,  as  it  ought,  a  just  and  humbling 
counterbalance  to  our  pride!  Then,  indeed,  we  would  judge  one 
another  no  more  about  such  matters.  We  would  rather  be  consci- 
entiously cautious  to  give  no  offense  ;  to  put  no  stumbling  block, 
or  occasion  to  fall  in  our  brother's  way.  We  would  then  no  longer 
exalt  our  own  opinions  and  inferences  to  an  equality  with  express 
revelation,  by  condemning  and  rejecting  our  brother,  for  differing 
with  us  in  those  things. 

But  although  it  be  granted,  that  the  vmiformity  we  plead  for, 
would  not  secure  unity  of  sentiment  ;  yet  we  should  suppose,  that 
it  would  be  as  efficacious  for  that  purpose,  as  any  human  expedient, 
or  substitute  whatsoever.  And  here  we  would  ask,  have  all,  or  any, 
of  those  human  complications  been  able  to  prevent  divisions,  to 
heal  breaches,  or  to  produce  and  maintain  unity  of  sentiment,  even 
amongst  those  who  have  most  firmly,  and  solemnly,  embraced  them? 
We  appeal  for  this  to  the  history  of  all  the  churches,  and  to  the 
present  divided  state  of  the  church  at  large.  What  good  then  have 
those  devisive  expedients  accomplished,  either  to  the  parties  that 
have  adopted  them,  or  to  the  church  universal ;  which  might  not 
have  been  as  well  secured,  by  holding  fast  in  profession  and  prac- 
tice that  form  of  sound  words,  contained  in  the  di\'ine  standard ; 
wdthout  at  the  same  time,  being  liable  to  any  of  those  dangerous 
and  destructive  consequences,  which  have  necessarily  ensued  upon 
the  present  mode?  Or  wUl  any  venture  to  say,  that  the  scriptures 
thus  kept  in  their  proper  place,  would  not  have  been  amply  sufH- 
cient,  under  the  promised  influence  of  the  divine  spirit  to  have 
produced  all  that  unity  of  sentiment,  which  is  necessary  to  a  life  of 
faith  and  holiness  ;  and  also  to  have  preserved  the  faith  and  worship 
of  the  church  as  pure  from  mixture  and  error,  as  the  Lord  intend- 
ed ;  or  as  the  present  imperfect  state  of  his  people  can  possibly 
admit?  We  should  tremble  to  think  that  any  christian  should  say, 
that  they  would  not.  And  if  to  use  them  thus,  would  be  sufncient 
for  those  purposes  ;  why  resort  to  other  expedients — to  expedients, 
which,  from  the  beginning  to  this  day,  have  proved  utterly  insuffi- 
cient ;  nay,  to  expedients,  which  have  always  produced  the  very 
contrary  effects,  as  experience  testifies.  Let  none  here  imagine 
that  we  set  any  certain  limits  to  the  Divine  intention,  or  to  the 


39 


greatness  of  his  power  when  we  thus  speak,  as  if  a  certain  degree 
of  purity  from  mixiure  and  error  were  not  designed  for  the  church 
in  this  world,  or  attainable  by  nio  people  upon  earth  ;  except  in  so 
far  as  respects  the  auainmcnt  of  an  angelic  or  unerring  perfec- 
tion ;  much  less,  that  we  mean  to  suggest,  that  a  very  moderate 
degree  of  unity  and  purity  should  content  us.  We  only  take  it  for 
granted,  that  such  a  state  of  perfection  is  neicher  intended,  nor 
attainable  in  this  world,  as  will  free  the  church  from  all  those  weak- 
nesses, mistakes,  and  mismanagements,  from  which  she  will  be 
completely  exempt  in  heaven  : — however  sound  and  upright  she 
may  now  be  in  her  profession,  intention,  and  practice.  Neither  let 
any  imagine,  what  we  liere,  or  elsewhere  suppose,  or  intend  to  assert, 
that  human  standards,  are  intentionally  set  up  in  compedtion  with 
the  Bible  ;  much  less  in  opposition  to  it.  We  fairly  understand 
and  consider  them  as  human  expedients,  or  as  certain  doctrinal  de- 
clarations of  the  sense  in  which  the  compilers  understood  the 
scriptures  ;  designed,  and  embraced,  for  the  purpose  ot  promoting 
and  securing,  that  desirable  unity  and  purity,  which  the  Bible  alone, 
without  those  helps,  would  be  insufficient  to  maintain  and  secure. 
If  this  be  not  the  sense  of  those  that  receive  and  hold  them,  for 
the  aforesaid  purpose,  we  should  be  glad  to  know  what  it  is.  It  is, 
however,  in  this  very  sense  that  we  take  them  up,  when  we  com- 
plain of  them,  as  not  only  unsuccessfiil,  but  also  as  unhappy  expe- 
dients ;  producing  the  very  contrary  effects.  And  even  suppose  it 
were  doubtful,  whether  or  not  those  helps  have  produced  divisions  ; 
one  thing  at  least  is  certain,  that  they  have  not  been  able  to  prevent 
them  ;  and  now  that  divisions  do  exist,  it  is  as  certain,  that  they 
have  no  fitness  nor  tendency  to  heal  them  ;  but  the  very  contrary,  as 
fact  and  experience  clearly  demonstrate.  What  shall  we  do  then 
to  heal  our  divisions?  We  must  certainly  take  some  other  way 
than  the  present  practice,  if  they  ever  be  healed  ;  for  it  expressly 
says,  they  must,  and  shall,  be  perpetuated  forever.  Let  all  the 
enemies  of  Christianity  say  amen.  But  let  all  christians,  corttinually 
say,  forbid  it,  O  Lord.  May  the  good  Lord  subdue  the  corruptions, 
and  heal  the  divisions  of  his  people.     Amen  and  amen. 

After  all  that  has  been  said,  some  of  our  timid  brethren  may 
possibly  stOl  object,  and  say  ;  we  fear,  that  without  the  intervention 
of  some  definite  creed  or  formula,  you  will  justly  incur  the  censure 
of  latitudinarianism  ;  for  how,  otherwise,  detect  and  exclude  Arians, 
Socinians,  &c.  &c?  To  such  we  would  reply,  that  if  to  profess,  in- 
culcate, and  practice,  neither  more  nor  less,  neither  any  thing  else 
nor  otherwise,  than  the  Divme  Word  expressly  declares  respecting 
the  entire  subject  of  faith  and  duty  ;  and  simply  to  rest  in  that,  as 
the  expression  of  our  faith,  and  rule  of  our  practice  ;  will  not 
amount  to  the  profession,  and  practical  exhibition,  of  Arianism 
Socinienism,  &c.  &c.  but  merely  to  one  and  the  self  same  thing, 
whatever  it  may  be  called  ;  then  is  the  ground  that  we  have  taken, 
the  principle  that  we  advocate,  in  nowise  chargeable  with  latitudi- 
narianism.    Should  it  be  still  further  objected  that  all  these  sects. 


40 


and  many  more,  profess  to  receive  the  Bible,  to  believe  it  to  be  the 
word  of  God  ;  and  therefore  will  readily  profess  to  believe  and 
practise  whatever  is  revealed  and  enjoined  therein  ;  and  yet  each 
will  ur.ccrstar.d  it  his  own  way,  and  of  course  practise  accordingly  : 
nevertheless,  accordii^.g  to  the  plan  proposed,  you  receive  them  all. 
We  woi;ld  zs'k,  then,  do  all  these  profess,  and  practise,  neither 
more,  nor  less,  than  what  we  read  in  the  Bible — than  what  is  ex- 
pressly rcveulcd  and  enjoined  therein?  If  so  they  all  profess  and 
practise  the  same  thing ;  for  the  Bible  exhibits  but  one  and  the 
self-s^me  thing  to  all.  Or,  is  it  their  own  inferences  and  opinions 
that  they,  in  reality,  profess  and  practise?  If  so,  then  upon  the 
ground  that  we  have  taken,  they  stand  rejected,  as  condemned  of 
themselves  ;  for  thus  professing  one  thing,  when  in  fact  and  reahty 
they  rr.anifcstly  practise  another.  But  perhaps  you  will  say,  that 
although  a  uniformity  in  profession,  and  it  may  be  in  practice  too, 
might  thus  be  produced  ;  yet  still  it  would  amount  to  no  more  than 
merely  a  uniformity  in  words,  and  in  the  external  formalities  of 
practice  ;  while  the  persons  thus  professing  and  practising,  might 
each  entertain  his  own  sentiments,  how  different  soever  these  might 
be.  Our  reply  is,  if  so,  they  could  hurt  no  body  but  himself ; 
besides,  if  persons  thus  united,  professed  and  pracused  all  the  same 
things,  pray,  who  could  tell,  that  they  entertained  different  senti- 
ments ;  or  even  in  justice  suppose  it,  unless  they  gave  some 
evident  intimation  of  it?  which,  if  they  did,  would  jusdy  expose 
them  to  censure  ;  or  to  rejection,  if  they  repented  not  ;  seeing  the 
offence,  in  this  case,  must  amount  to  nothing  less  than  an  express 
violation  of  the  expressly  revealed  will  of  God — to  a  manifest  trans- 
gression of  the  express  letter  of  the  law  ;  for  we  have  declared, 
that  except  in  such  a  case,  no  man,  in  our  judgment,  has  a  right  to 
judge,  that  is,  to  condemn,  or  reject,  his  professing  brother. — 
Here,  we  presume,  there  is  no  greater  latitude  assumed,  or  allowed, 
on  either  side,  than  the  law  expressly  determines.  But  we  would 
humbly  ask,  if  a  professed  agreement  in  the  terms  of  any  standard 
be  not  liable  to  the  very  same  objection?  If,  for  instance,  Arians, 
Socinians,  Arminians,  Calvinists,  Antinomians,  &c.  &c.  might  not 
all  subscribe  the  Westminster  Confession,  the  Athipasian  Creed, 
or  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the  Church  of  England.  If  this 
be  denied,  we  appeal  to  historical  facts  ;  and,  in  the  mean  time, 
venture  to  assert,  that  such  things  are,  and  have  been  done.  Or 
will  any  say,  that  a  person  might  not  with  equal  ease,  nonesdy,  and 
consistency,  be  an  Arian,  or  a  Socinian,  in  his  heart,  while  subscri- 
bing the  Westminster  Confession,  or  the  Athenasian  Creed,  as 
while  making  his  unqualihed  protession  to  believe  every  thing  that 
the  scriptures  declare  concerning  Christ?  to  put  all  that  confi- 
dence in  him  ;  and  to  ascribe  all  that  glory,  honor,  thanksgiving, 
and  praise  "to  him,  professed,  and  ascribed  to  him  in  the  Divine 
Word?  If  you  say  not  it  follows  of  undeniable  consequence,  that 
the  wisdom  of  men,  in  those  compiladons,  has  affected,  what  the 
Divine  Wisdom  either  could  not,  would  not,  or  did  not  do,  in  tiat 


41 


all-perfect  and  glorious  revelation  of  his  will,  contained  in  the  holy 
Scriptures.  Happy  emendation!  Blessed  expedient!  Happy  in- 
deed, for  the  church,  that  Athenasius  arose  in  the  fourth  century, 
to  perfect  what  the  holy  apostles  and  prophets  had  left  in  such  a  rude 
and  unfinished  state.  But  if,  after  all,  the  Divine  Wisdom  did  not 
think  proper  to  do  any  thing  more,  or  any  thing  else,  than  is  already 
done  Ln  the  Sacred  Oracles,  to  settle  and  determine  those  important 
points  ;  who  can  say  that  he  determined  such  a  thing  should  be  done 
afterwards?  Or  has  he  any  where  given  us  any  intimation  of  such 
an  intention? 

Let  it  here  be  carefully  observed  that  the  question  before  us  is 
about  human  standards  designed  to  be  subscribed,  or  otherwise 
solemnly  acknowledged,  for  the  preservation  of  ecclesiastical  unity 
and  purity  ;  and  therefore  of  course,  by  no  means,  applies  to  the 
many  excellent  performances,  for  the  scriptural  elucidation  and 
defence  of  divinely  revealed  truths,  and  other  instructive  purposes. 
These,  we  hope,  according  to  their  respective  merit,  we  as  highly 
esteem,  and  as  thankfully  receive,  as  our  brethren.  But  farther, 
with  respect  to  unity  of  sentiment,  even  suppose  it  ever  so  desira- 
ble, it  appears  highly  questionable,  whether  such  a  thing  can  at  all 
be  secured,  by  any  expedient  whatsoever  ;  especially  if  we  consi- 
der, that  it  necessarily  pre-supposes  in  so  far,  a  unity  or  sameness 
of  understanding.  Or,  will  any  say,  that,  from  the  youth  of  seven- 
teen to  the  man  of  four  score — from  the  illiterate  peasant,  up  to  the 
learned  prelate  ;  all  the  ligitmate  members  of  the  church  enter- 
tain the  same  sentiments  under  their  respective  formulas.  If  not, 
it  is  stOl  but  a  mere  verbal  agreement,  a  mere  shew  of  unity.  They 
say  an  amen  to  the  same  forms  of  speech,  or  of  sound  words,  as 
they  are  called  ;  without  having,  at  the  same  time,  the  same  views 
of  the  subject ;  or,  it  may  be,  without  any  determinate  views  of  it 
at  all.  And  what  is  still  worse,  this  profession  is  palm.ed  upon  the 
world,  as  well  as  upon  the  too  credulous  professors  themselves,  for 
unity  of  sentiment  ;  for  soundness  in  the  taith  :  when  Ln  a  thousand 
instances,  they  have,  properly  speaking,  no  faith  at  all  :  that  is  to 
say,  if  faith  necessarily  pre-supposes  a  true  and  satisfactory  convic- 
tion of  the  scriptural  evidence  and  certainty  of  the  truth  of  the 
propositions  we  profess  to  believe.  A  cheap  and  easy  orthodoxy 
this,  to  which  we  may  attain  by  committing  to  memory  a  catechism  ; 
or  professing  our  approbation  of  a  formula,  made  ready  to  our 
hand  ;  which  we  may  or  may  not  have  once  read  over  ;  or  even  if 
we  have,  yet  may  not  have  been  able  to  read  it  so  correctly  and 
intelligently,  as  to  clearly  understand  one  single  paragraph  from 
beginning  to  end  ;  much  less  to  compare  it  vvich,  to  search  and  try 
it  by,  the  holy  Scriptures  ;  to  see  if  these  things  be  so.  A  eheap 
and  easy  orthodoxy  this,  indeed,  to  v.-hich  a  person  may  thus  attain, 
without  so  much  as  turning  over  a  single  leaf  of  his  Bible  ;  whereas 
Christ  knew  no  other  way  of  leading  us  to  the  knowledge  of  him- 
«clf,  at  least  has  pcrscribed  no  otiicr,  but  by  searching  the  Scrip- 
tures, with  reliance  upon  his  holy  Spirit.    A  person  may,  however, 

F 


42 


by  this  short  and  easy  method,  becomes  as  orthodox  as  the  Apostle 
Paul  (if  such  superlical  professions,  such  mere  hearsay  verbal 
repetitions  can  be  called  orthodoxy)  without  ever  once  consulting 
the  Bible  ;  or  so  much  as  putting  up  a  single  petition  for  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  guide  him  into  all  truth  ;  to  open  his  understanding  to 
know  the  Scriptures  ;  for,  his  form  of  sound  words  truly  believed, 
if  it  happened  to  be  right,  must,  without  more  ado,  infallibly  secure 
his  orthodoxy.  Thrice  happy  expedient!  But  is  there  no  latitu- 
dinarianism  in  all  this?  Is  not  this  taking  a  latitude,  in  devising 
ways  and  means  for  accomplishing  divine  and  saving  purposes, 
which  the  Divine  law  has  no  where  prescribed  ;  for  which  the 
Scriptures  no  where  afford  us,  either  precept  or  precedent?  Unless 
it  can  be  shewn,  that  making  human  standards  to  determine  the 
doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  government,  of  the  church,  for 
the  purpose  of  preserving  her  unity  and  purity  ;  and  requiring  an 
approbation  of  them  as  a  term  of  communion  ;  is  a  Scripture  insti- 
tution. Far  be  it  from  us,  in  the  mean  time,  to  alledge,  that  the 
church  should  not  make  every  spiritual  exertion,  in  her  power, 
to  preserve  her  unity  and  purity  ;  to  teach  and  train  up  her  mem- 
bers in  the  knowledge  of  all  divinely  revealed  truth  ;  or  to  say,  that 
the  evils,  above  complained  of,  attached  to  all  that  are  in  the  habits  of 
using  the  aforesaid  helps  ;  or  that  this  wretched  state  of  things, 
however  general,  necessarily  proceeds  from  the  legitimate  use  of 
such  ;  but  rather,  and  entirely,  from  the  abuse  of  them  ;  which  is 
the  very  and  only  thing,  that  we  are  all  along  opposing,  when  we 
allude  to  those  subordinate  standards. — (An  appellation  this,  bye  the 
bye,  which  appears  to  us  highly  paradoxical,  if  not  utterly  inconsis- 
tent, and  full  of  confiision. ) 

But  however  this  may  be,  we  are  by  no  means  to  be  understood 
as  at  all  wishing  to  deprive  our  fellow-christians  of  any  necessary 
and  possible  assistance  to  understand  the  scriptures  :  or  to  come  to 
a  distinct  and  particular  knowledge  of  every  truth  they  contain  ; — 
for  which  purpose  the  Westminister  Confession  and  Catechisms, 
may  with  many  other  excellent  performances,  prove  eminently 
useftil.  But,  having  served  ourselves  of  these,  let  our  profiting 
appear  to  all,  by  our  manifest  acquaintance  with  the  Bible  ;  by 
making  our  profession  of  faith  and  obedience,  by  declaring  its  di- 
vine dictate,  in  which  we  acquiesce  as  the  subject  matter  and  rule 
of  both — in  our  ability  to  take  the  Scripture  in  its  connexion  upon 
these  subjects,  so  as  to  understand  one  part  of  it  by  the  assistance 
of  another — and  in  manifesting  our  self  knowledge,  our  knowledge 
of  the  way  of  salvation,  and  of  the  mystery  of  the  christian  life,  in 
the  express  light  of  divine  revelation  ;  by  a  direct  and  immediate 
reference  to,  and  correct  repetition  of,  what  it  declares  upon  these 
subjects — We  take  it  for  granted,  that  no  man  either  knows  God, 
or  himself,  or  the  way  of  salvation,  but  in  so  far,  as  he  has  heard 
and  understood  his  voice  upon  those  subjects,  as  addressed  to  him 
in  the  Scriptures  ;  and  that,  therefore,  whatever  he  has  heard  and 
learned  of  a  saving  nature,  is  contained  in  the  express  terms  of  the 


43 


Bible.  If  so,  in  the  express  terms,  in  and  by  which,  "he  hath  heard 
and  learned  of  the  Father,"  let  him  declare  it.  This  by  no  means 
forbids  him  to  use  helps  :  but,  we  humbly  presume,  will  effectually 
prevent  him  from  resting  either  in  them  or  upon  them  ;  which  is 
the  evil  so  justly  complained  of — from  taking  up  with  the  directory 
Instead  of  the  object  to  which  it  directs.  Thus  will  the  whole 
subject  of  his  faith  and  duty,  in  so  far  as  he  hath  attained,  be  express- 
ly declared,  in  a  "thus  saith  the  Lord."  And,  is  it  not  worthy  of 
remark,  that,  of  whatever  use  other  books  may  be,  to  direct  and 
lead  us  to  the  Bible  ;  or  to  prepare  and  assist  us  to  understand  it ; 
yet  the  Bible  never  directs  us  to  any  book  but  itself.  When  we 
come  forward  then  as  christians  to  be  received  by  the  church, 
which,  properly  speaking,  has  but  one  book.  "For  to  it  were 
committed  the  oracles  of  God  ;"  let  us  hear  none  else.  Is  it  not 
upon  the  credible  profession  of  our  faith  in,  and  obedience  to,  its  divine 
contents,  that  the  church  is  bound  to  receive  applicants  for  admis- 
sion? And  does  not  a  profession  of  our  faith  and  obedience,  neces- 
sarily pre-suppose  a  knowledge  of  the  dictates  we  profess  to  believe 
and  obey?  Surely,  then,  we  can  declare  them  ;  and  as  surely,  if  our 
faith  and  obedience  be  divine,  as  to  the  subject  matter,  rule,  and 
reason  of  them,  it  must  be  a  "thus  saith  the  Lord  ;"  if  otherwise, 
they  are  merely  human  ;  being  taught  by  the  precepts  of  men.  In 
the  case  then  before  us,  that,  is,  examination  for  church  member- 
ship, let  the  question  no  longer  be  what  does  any  human  system 
say  of  the  primitive  or  present  state  of  man  ;  of  the  person,  offices 
and  relations  of  Christ,  &c.  &c.  or  of  this,  that,  or  the  other  duty  ; 
but  what  says  the  Bible?  Were  this  mode  of  procedure  adopted, 
how  much  better  acquainted  with  their  Bibles  would  christians  be? 
What  an  important  alteration  would  it  also  make  in  the  education  of 
youth?  Would  it  not  lay  all  candidates  for  admission  into  the  church 
under  the  happy  necessity  of  becoming  particularly  acquainted  with 
the  holy  Scriptures?  whereas,  according  to  the  present  practice, 
thousands  know  little  about  them. 

One  thing  still  remains  that  may  appear  matter  of  difficulty  or 
objection  to  some  ;  namely,  that  such  a  close  adherence  to  the 
express  letter  of  the  Divine  word,  as  we  seem  to  propose,  for  the 
restoration  and  maintenance  of  christian  unity  ;  would  not  only 
interfere  with  the  free  communication  of  our  sentiments  one  to 
another,  upon  religious  subjects ;  but  must,  of  course,  also  neces- 
sarialy  interfere  with  the  public  preaching  and  expounding  of  the 
Scriptures,  for  the  edification  of  the  church.  Such  as  feel  disposed 
to  make  this  objection,  should  justly  consider  tnat  one  of  a  similar 
nature,  and  quite  as  plausable,  might  be  made  to  the  adoption  ot 
human  standards ;  especially  when  made  as  some  of  them  confess- 
edly are,  "the  standard  for  all  matters  of  doctrine,  worship,  disci- 
pline, and  government."  In  such  a  case  it  might,  with  as  much 
justice,  at  least,  be  objected  to  the  adopters  ;  you  have  now  no  more 
use  for  the  Bible  ;  you  have  got  another  book  which  you  have 
adopted  as  a  standard  for  all  religious  purposes — you  have  no  farther 


44 


use  for  explaining  the  Scriptures,  cither  as  to  matter  of  faith  or 
duty  :  for  this  you  have  confessedly  done  already  in  your  standard, 
wherein  you  have  determined  all  matters  of  this  nature.  You  also 
profess  to  hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words,  which  you  have  thus 
adopted  ;  and  therefore  you  must  never  open  your  mouth  upon  any 
subject  in  any  other  terms  than  those  of  your  standard.  In  the 
mean  time,  would  any  of  the  parties,  which  has  thus  adopted  its 
respective  standard,  consider  any  of  these  charges  just?  If  not,  let 
them  do  as  they  would  be  done  by.  We  must  confess,  however,  that 
for  our  part,  we  cannot  see  how,  with  any  shadow  of  consistency, 
some  of  them  could  clear  themselves,  especially  of  the  first  ;  that 
is  to  say,  if  words  have  any  determinate  meaning  ;  for  certainly  it 
would  appear  almost,  if  not  altogether,  incontrovertible  ;  that  a 
book  adopted  by  any  party  as  its  standard  for  all  matters  of  doctrine, 
worship,  discipline,  and  government ;  must  be  considered  as  the 
Bible  of  that  party.  And  after  all  that  can  be  said  in  favor  of  such 
a  performance,  be  it  called  Bible,  standard,  or  what  it  may  ;  it  is 
neither  any  thing  more  nor  better,  than  the  judgment,  or  opinion  of 
the  party  composing  or  adopting  it ;  and  therefore  wants  the  sanc- 
tion of  a  Divine  authority ;  except  in  the  opinion  of  the  party 
which  has  thus  adopted  it.  But  can  the  opinion  of  any  party,  be 
it  ever  so  respectable,  give  the  stamp  of  a  Divine  authority  to  its 
judgments?  If  not,  then  every  human  standard  is  deficient  in  thia 
leading,  all-important,  and  indispensable  property  of  a  rule,  or 
standard,  for  the  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  government  of 
the  church  of  God.  But  without  insisting  farther  upon  the  intrin- 
sic and  irremediable  deficiency  of  human  standards,  for  the  above 
purpose,  (which  is  undeniably  e\'ident,  if  it  be  granted  that  a  Di- 
vine authority  is  indispensably  necessary  to  constitute  a  standard,  or 
rule  for  divine  things :  such  as  is  the  constitution,  and  manage- 
ments ;  the  faith,  and  worship  of  the  christian  church) — we  would 
humbly  ask  would  any  of  the  parties  consider  as  just,  the  foregoing 
objections,  however  conclusive  and  well  founded,  all  or  any  of  them 
may  appear?  We  believe  they  would  not.  And  may  we  not  with 
equal  consistency  hold  fast  the  expressly  revealed  will  of  God,  in 
the  very  terms  in  which  it  is  expressed  in  his  Holy  Word,  as  the 
very  expression  of  our  faith,  and  express  rule  of  our  duty  ;  and 
yet  take  the  same  liberty  that  they  do,  notwithstanding  their  pro- 
fessed and  steadfast  adherence  to  their  respective  standards?  We 
find  they  do  not  cease  to  expound,  because  they  have  already  ex- 
pounded, as  before  alleged  ;  nor  yet  do  they  always  confine  them- 
selves to  the  express  terms  of  their  respective  standards  ;  yet  they 
acknowledge  them  to  be  their  standards,  and  profess  to  hold  them 
fast.  Yea,  moreover,  some  of  them  profess,  and,  if  we  may  con- 
clude from  facts,  we  believe  each  of  them  is  disposed  to  defend, 
by  occasional  vindications  (or  testimonies,  as  some  call  them,)  the 
sentiments  they  have  adopted,  and  engossed  in  their  standards ; 
without,  at  the  same  time,  requiring  an  approbation  of  those  occa- 
sional performances,  as  a  term  of  conmiunion.    And  what  should 


45 


hinder  us,  or  any,  adopting  the  Divine  Standard,  as  aforesaid,  with 
equal  consistency  to  do  the  same  ;  for  the  vindication  of  the  divine 
truths  expressly  revealed  and  enjoined  therein?  To  say  that  wc 
cannot  believe  and  profess  the  truth  ;  understand  one  another  ;  in- 
culcate and  vindicate  the  faith  and  law  of  Christ ;  or  do  the  duties 
incumbent  upon  christians,  or  a  christian  church,  without  a  human 
standard  ;  is  not  only  saying,  that  such  a  standard  is  quite  essential 
to  the  very  being  of  Christianity,  and  of  course  must  have  existed 
before  a  church  was,  or  could  be  formed  :  but  it  is  also  saying,  that 
without  such  a  standard,  the  Bible  would  be  quite  inadequate,  as  a 
rule  of  faith  and  duty  ;  or  rather,  ot  no  use  at  all  ;  except  to  fur- 
nish materials  for  such  a  work — whereas  the  church  of  Ephesus, 
long  before  we  have  any  account  of  the  existence  of  such  a  standard, 
is  not  only  mentioned,  with  many  others,  as  in  a  state  of  existence  ; 
and  of  high  attainments  too  ;  but  is  also  commended  for  her  vigi- 
lance and  fidelity,  in  detecting  and  rejecting  false  apostles.  -  "Thou 
hast  tried  them  which  say  they  are  apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast 
found  them  liars."  But  should  any  pretend  to  say,  that  although 
such  performances  be  not  essential  to  the  very  being  of  the  church, 
yet  are  they  highly  conducive  to  its  well  being  and  perfection.  For 
the  confutation  of  such  an  assertion,  we  would  again  appeal  to 
church  history,  and  existing  facts,  and  leave  the  judicious  and  intel- 
ligent christian  to  determine. 

If  after  all  that  has  been  said,  any  should  still  pretend  to  affirm, 
that  the  plan  we  profess  to  edopt  and  recommend,  is  truly  latitudi- 
narian,  in  the  worst  and  fullest  sense  of  the  term  ;  inasmuch  as  it 
goes  to  make  void  all  human  efforts  to  maintain  the  unity  and  purity 
of  the  church,  by  substituting  a  vague  and  indefinite  approbation 
of  the  Scriptures  as  an  alternative  for  creeds,  confessions,  and 
testimonies  ;  and  thereby  opens  a  wide  door  for  the  reception  of  all 
sorts  of  characters  and  opinions  into  the  church.  Were  we  not 
convinced  by  experience,  that  notwithstanding  all  that  has  been 
said,  such  objections  would  likely  be  made ;  or  that  some  weak 
persons  might  possibly  consider  them  as  good  as  demonstration ; 
especially  when  proceeding  from  highly  influential  characters  (and 
there  have  not  been  wanting  such  in  all  ages  to  oppose,  under 
various  plausable  pretences,  the  unity  and  peace  of  the  church) 
were  it  not  for  these  considerations,  we  should  content  ourselves 
with  what  we  have  already  advanced  upon  the  whole  of  the  subject, 
as  being  well  assured,  that  duly  attended  to,  there  would  not  be  the 
least  room  for  such  an  objection  :  but  to  prevent  if  possible  such 
unfounded  conclusions  ;  or  if  this  cannot  be  done,  to  caution  and 
assist  the  too  credulous  and  unwary  professor,  that  he  may  not  be 
carried  away  all  at  once  with  the  high-toned  confidence  of  bold 
assertion  ; — we  would  refer  him  to  the  overture  for  union  in  truth 
contained  in  the  foregoing  address.  Union  in  truth,  amongst  all 
the  manifest  subjects  of  grace  and  truth,  is  what  we  advocate. 
We  carry  our  views  of  union  no  farther  than  this ;  nor  de  we  pre- 
sume to  recommend  it  upon  any  other  principle  than  truth  alone. 


46 


Now  surely  truth  is  something  certain  and  definite  ;  if  not,  who 
will  take  upon  him  to  define  and  determine  it?  This  we  suppose 
God  has  sufficiently  done  already  in  his  Holy  Word.  That  men 
therefore  truly  receive  and  make  the  proper  use  of  the  Divine 
word  for  walking  together  in  truth  and  peace,  in  holiness  and 
charity,  is,  no  doubt,  the  ardent  desire  of  all  the  genuine  subjects 
of  our  holy  religion.  This  we  see,  however,  they  have  not  done, 
to  the  awful  detriment,  and  manifest  subversion  of,  what  we  might 
almost  call,  the  primary  intention  of  Christianity.  We  dare  not 
therefore  follow  their  example,  nor  adopt  their  ruinous  expedients. 
But  does  it  therefore  follow,  that  christians  may  not,  or  cannot, 
take  proper  steps  to  ascertain  that  desirable  and  preceptive  unity, 
which  the  Divine  word  requires,  and  enjoined?  Surely  no — at  least 
we  have  supposed  no  such  thing  ; — but  on  the  contrary,  have  over- 
tured  to  our  brethren,  what  appears  to  us  undeniably  just,  and 
scripturally  evident  ;  and  which  we  humbly  think,  if  adopted  and 
acted  upon,  would  have  the  desired  effect — adopted  and  acted  upon, 
not  indeed  as  a  standard  for  the  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and 
government  of  the  church  ;  for  it  pretends  not  to  determine  these 
matters  ;  but  rather  supposes  the  existance  of  a  fixed  and  certain 
standard  of  divine  original  ;  in  which  every  thing  that  the  wisdom 
of  God  saw  meet  to  reveal  and  determine,  for  these,  and  all  other 
purposes,  is  expressly  defined  and  determined  ;  betwixt  the  chris- 
tian and  which,  no  medium  of  human  determination  ought  to  be 
interposed.  In  all  this,  there  is  surely  nothing  like  the  denial 
of  any  lawful  effort,  to  promote  and  maintain  the  churches  unity  ; 
though  there  be  a  refusal  of  the  imwarantable  interposition,  of  an 
unauthorized  and  assuming  power. 

Let  none  imagine,  that  we  are  here  determining  upon  the  merits 
of  the  overture,  to  which,  in  the  case  before  us,  we  find  it  neces- 
sary to  appeal,  in  our  own  defence,  against  the  injustice  of  the 
supposed  charge  above  specified.  To  the  judgment  of  our  brethren 
have  we  referred  that  matter  ;  and  with  them  we  leave  it.  All  we 
intend,  therefore,  is  to  avail  ourselves  so  far,  of  what  we  have 
done,  as  to  shew,  that  we  have  no  intention  whatsoever  of  substi- 
tuting a  vague  indefinite  approbation  of  the  Scriptures,  as  an  alter- 
native for  creeds,  confessions,  and  testimonies  ;  for  the  purpose  of 
restoring  the  church  to  her  original  constitunal  unity  and  purity. 
In  avoiding  Svlla  we  would  cautiously  guard  against  being  wrecked 
upon  the  Charybdis.  Extremes  we  are  told  arc  dangerous.  We 
therefore  suppose  a  middle  way  ;  a  safe  way  ;  so  plainly  marked  out 
by  unerring  wisdom,  that,  if  duly  attended  to  under  the  Divine 
direction,  the  wayfaring  men,  though  fools,  need  not  err  therein  ; 
and  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  *'for  he  hath  chosen  the  foolish 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things  that  are  wise."  We 
therefore  conclude,  it  must  be  a  plain  way,  a  way  most  graciously 
and  most  judiciously  adapted  to  the  capacity  of  the  subjects  ;  and 
consequently  not  the  way  of  subscribing,  or  otherwise  approving 
human  standards,  as  a  term  of  admission  into  his  cijurch  ;  as  a  test 


47 


and  defence  of  orthodoxy ;  which  even  the  compilers  themselvet 
are  not  always  agreed  about  ;  and  which  nineteen  out  of  twenty  of 
the  Lord's  people  cannot  thoroughly  understand.  It  must  be  a  way 
very  far  remote  from  logical  subtUties,  and  metaphysical  specula- 
tions ;  and  as  such  we  have  taken  it  up,  upon  the  plainest  and  most 
obvious  principles  of  divine  revelation,  and  common  sense — the 
common  sense,  we  mean  of  christians,  exercised  upon  the  plain- 
est and  most  obvious  truths  and  facts,  divinely  recorded  for  their 
instruction.  Hence  we  have  supposed  in  the  first  place,  the  true 
discrimination  of  christian  character  to  consist  in  an  intelligent 
profession  of  our  faith  in  Christ  and  obedience  to  him  in  all  things 
according  to  the  Scriptures  ;  the  reality  of  which  profession  is 
manifested  by  the  holy  consistency  of  the  tempers  and  conduct  ot 
the  professors,  with  the  express  dictates,  and  approved  examples 
of  the  Divine  word.  Hence  we  have  humility,  faith,  piety,  tem- 
perence,  justice,  charity,  &c.  professed  and  manifested  in  the  first 
instance  by  the  persons'  professing  with  self-application  the  con- 
vincing, humbling,  encouraging,  pious,  temperate,  just  and  cha- 
ritable doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  inspired  volume,  as  exhibited 
and  enforced  in  its  holy  and  approved  examples  ;  and  the  sincerity 
of  this  profession  evidently  manifested,  by  the  consistency  of  the 
professor's  temper  and  conduct  with  the  entire  subject  of  his  pro- 
fession ;  either  by  an  irreproveable  conformity  like  good  Zachariah 
and  Elizabeth,  which  is  of  all  things  most  desirable  ;  or  otherwise, 
in  case  of  any  visible  failure,  by  an  apparently  sincere  repentance, 
and  evident  reformation.  Such  professors,  and  such  only,  have  we 
supposed  to  be,  by  common  consent,  truly  worthy  the  christian 
name.  Ask  from  the  one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other,  the  whole 
number  of  such  intelligent  and  consistent  professors  as  we  intend, 
and  have  discribed,  and  we  humbly  presume,  there  will  not  be 
found  one  dissenting  voice.  They  will  all  acknowledge  with  one 
consent,  that  the  true  discrimination  of  christian  character  consists 
in  these  things  ;  and  that  the  radical,  or  manifest  want,  of  any  of 
the  aforesaid  properties,  completely  destroys  the  character. 

We  have  only  here  taken  for  granted,  what  we  suppose  no  rational 
professor  will  venture  to  deny  ;  namely,  that  the  Divine  Word 
contains  an  ample  sufficiency  upon  every  of  the  foregoing  topics  to 
stamp  the  above  character  ;  if  so  be,  that  the  impressions  which  its 
express  declarations  are  obviously  calculated  to  produce,  be  truly 
received  ;  for  instance,  suppose  a  person  profess  to  believe,  with 
application  to  himself,  that  whole  discription  of  human  depravity 
and  wretchedness  which  the  Scriptures  exhibit  of  fallen  man,  in 
the  express  declarations  and  dismal  examples  of  human  wicked- 
ness therein  recorded  ;  contrasted  with  the  holy  nature,  the  righte- 
ous requirements,  and  inflexible  justice  of  an  infinitely  holy,  just, 
and  jealous  God  ;  would  not  the  subject  matter  of  such  a  profes- 
sion be  amply  sufficient  to  impress  the  believing  mind  with  the 
most  profound  humility,  self-abhorrence,  and  dreadfial  apprehen- 
sion of  the  tremendous  effects  of  sin?    Again  should  the  person 


48 


profess  to  believe,  in  connexion  with  this,  all  that  the  Scripture* 
declare  of  the  sovereign  love,  mercy,  and  condescension  of  God, 
towards  guilty,  depraved,  rebellious  man,  as  the  same  is  manifested 
in  Christ,  and  in  all  the  gp-acious  declarations,  invitations  and  pro- 
mises, that  are  made  in  and  through  him,  for  the  relief  and  encou- 
ragement of  the  guilty.  Sec.  would  not  all  this,  taken  together,  be 
sufficient  to  impress  the  believing  mind  with  the  most  lively  confi- 
dence, gratitude,  and  love?  Should  this  person,  moreover,  profess 
that  delight  and  conndence  in  the  Divine  Redeemer — that  volunta- 
ry submission  to  him — that  worship  and  adoration  of  him,  which 
the  Scriptures  expressly  declare  to  have  been  the  habits  and  prac- 
tice of  his  people  ;  would  not  the  subject  matter  of  this  profession 
be  amply  sufficient  to  impress  the  believing  mind  with  that  dutiful 
disposition,  with  that  gracious  veneration,  and  supreme  reverence, 
which  the  word  of  God  requires?  And  should  not  all  this  taken 
together  satisfy  the  church,  in  so  far,  in  point  of  profession?  It 
not,  there  is  no  alternative  but  a  new  revelation  ;  seeing  that  to 
deny  this,  is  to  assert,  that  a  distinct  perception,  and  sincere  profes- 
sion, of  whatever  the  word  declares  upon  every  point  of  faith  and 
duty,  is  not  only  insufficient,  as  a  doctrinal  means,  to  produce  a 
just  and  suitable  impression  in  the  minds  of  the  believing  subject  y 
but  is  also  insufficient  to  satisfy  the  church,  as  to  a  just  and  adequate 
profession  : — if  otherwise,  then  it  vv-Ul  necessarily  follow,  that  not 
every  sort  of  character,  but  that  one  sort  only,  is  admissible  upon 
the  principle  we  have  adopted  ;  and,  that  by  the  universal  consent 
of  all,  that  we,  at  least,  dare  venture  to  call  christians,  this  is  ac- 
knowledged to  be,  exclusively,  the  true  christian  character.  Here 
then  we  have  a  fixed  point,  a  certain  description  of  character,  vi'hich 
combines  in  every  professing  subject,  the  scriptural  profession,  the 
evident  manifestation,  of  humility,  faith,  piety,  temperance,  jus- 
tice, and  charity  ;  instructed  by,  and  evidendy  answering  to,  the 
entire  declaration  of  the  Word,  upon  each  of  those  topics :  which, 
as  so  many  properties,  serve  to  constitute  the  character.  Here,  we 
say,  we  have  a  fixed  and  at  the  same  time  sweeping  distinction ; 
which,  as  of  old,  manifesdy  divides  the  whole  world,  however, 
other  ways  distinguished,  into  but  two  classes  only.  "We  know," 
said  the  Apostle,  evidently  speaking  of  such,  "that  we  are  of  God, 
and  the  whole  world  lieth  in  wickedness." 

Should  it  be  enquired  concerning  the  persons  included  in  this 
description  of  character,  whether  they  be  Arminians,  or  Calvinists, 
or  both  promiscuously  huddled  together?  It  may  be  jusdy  replied, 
that,  according  to  what  we  have  proposed,  they  can  be  nominally 
neither,  and  of  course  not  both  ;  for  we  call  no  man  master  on 
earth  ;  for  one  is  our  master,  even  Christ  and  all  we  are  brethren — 
are  christians  by  profession  ;  and,  as  such  abstract  speculadon  and 
argumentadve  theory  make  no  part,  either  of  our  profession,  or 
practice.  Such  professors,  then,  as  we  intend,  and  have  described, 
are  just  what  fheir  profession  and  practice  make  them  to  be  ;  and 
this  we  hope  has  been  scripturally,  and,  we  might  add,  satisfactorily 


49 

defined  ;  in  so  far,  at  least,  as  the  limits  of  so  brief  a  performance 
would  admit.  We  also  entertain  the  pleasing  confidence,  that  the 
plan  of  procedure  which  we  have  ventured  to  suggest,  if  duly 
attended  to,  if  fully  reduced  to  practice,  would  necessarily  secure 
to  the  professing  subject  all  the  advantages  of  divinely  revealed 
truth,  without  any  liability  to  conceal,  or  diminish,  or  to  misrepre- 
sent it  ;  as  it  goes  immediately  to  ascribe  every  thing  to  God  re- 
specting his  sovereignty,  independence,  power,  wisdom,  goodness, 
justice,  truth,  holiness,  mercy,  condescension,  love  and  grace,  &c. 
which  is  ascribed  to  him  in  his  word  ;  as  also  to  receive  whatever 
it  declares  concerning  the  absolute  dependence  of  the  poor,  guilty, 
depraved,  polluted  creature,  upon  the  Divine  will,  power,  and  grace, 
for  every  saving  purpose  :  a  just  perception  and  correspondent  pro- 
fession of  which,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  is  supposed  to  con- 
stitute that  fundamental  ingredcnt  in  christian  character,  true 
evangelical  humility.  And  so  of  the  rest.  Having  thus,  we  hope, 
scripturally  and  evidently  determined  the  character  with  the  proper 
mode  of  ascertaining  it,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  :  we 
next  proceed  to  affirm  with  the  same  scriptural  evidence,  that 
amongst  such,  however  situated,  whether  in  the  same  or  similar 
associations,  there  ought  to  be  no  schisms,  no  uncharitable  divisions  ; 
but  that  they  ought  all  mutually  to  receive,  and  acknowledge  each 
other  as  brethren.  As  to  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  they  are  all 
likewise  agreed  without  one  dissenting  voice.  We  next  suggest 
that  for  this  purpose  they  ought  to  all  walk  by  the  same  rule,  to 
mind  and  speak  the  same  thing,  &c.  and  that  this  rule  is,  and  ought 
to  be,  the  Divine  Standard.  Here  again  we  presume  there  can  be 
no  objection,  no,  not  a  single  dissenting  voice.  As  to  the  rule 
itself,  we  have  ventured  to  alledge  that  the  New  Testament  is  the 
proper  and  immediate  rule,  directory,  and  formula,  for  the  New 
Trstament  church,  and  for  the  particular  duties  of  christians  ;  as 
the  Old  Testament  was  for  the  Old  Testament  church,  and  for  the 
particular  duties  of  the  subject  under  that  dispensation  ;  at  the 
same  time  by  no  means  excluding  the  old  as  fundamental  to,  illus- 
trative of,  and  inseparably  connected  with,  the  new  ;  and  as  being 
every  way  of  equal  authority,  as  well  as  of  an  entire  ssmeness  with 
it,  in  every  point  of  moral  natural  duty  ;  though  not  immediately 
our  rule,  without  the  intervention  and  coincident  of  the  new  ;  in 
which  our  Lord  has  taught  his  people,  by  the  ministry  of  his  holy 
Apostles,  all  things  whatsoever  thay  should  observe  and  do,  till  the 
end  of  the  world.  Thus  we  come  to  the  one  rule,  taking  the  Old 
Testament  as  explained  and  perfected  by  the  new,  and  the  new  as 
illustrated  and  enforced  by  the  old  ;  assuming  the  latter  as  the  pro- 
per and  immediate  directory  for  the  christian  church,  as  also  for 
the  positive  and  particular  duties  of  christians,  as  to  all  things 
whatsoever  they  should  observe  and  do.  Farther,  that  in  Hie  ob- 
servance of  this  Divine  rule — this  authentic  and  infillible  directory, 
all  such  may  aome  to  the  desirable  coincidence  of  holy  unity  and 
uniformity  of  profession  and  practice  ;  we  have  overtured  that  they 

G 


50 


all  speak,  profess,  and  practice,  the  very  same  things,  that  are 
exhibited  upon  the  sacred  page  of  New  Testament  Scripture,  as 
spoken  and  done  by  the  Divine  appointment  and  approbation  ;  and 
that  this  be  extended  to  every  possible  instance  of  uniformity,  with- 
out addition  or  diminution  ;  without  introducing  any  thing  of  private 
opinion,  or  doubtful  disputation,  into  the  public  profession  or  prac- 
tice of  the  church.  Thus  and  thus,  have  we  overtured  to  all  intent* 
and  purposes,  as  may  be  clearly  seen  by  consulting  the  overture 
itself ;  in  which,  however,  should  any  thing  appear  not  sufiicicnily 
explicit,  we  flatter  ourselves  it  may  be  fiilly  imderstood,  by  taking 
into  consideration  what  has  been  variously  suggested,  upon  this- 
important  subject,  throughout  the  whole  of  these  premises  ;  so 
that  if  any  due  degree  of  attention  be  paid,  we  should  think  it  next 
to  impossible,  that  we  could  be  so  far  misimderstood,  as  to  be  charg- 
ed with  Latitudinarianism  in  any  usual  sense  of  the  word.  Kere 
we  have  proposed  but  one  description  of  character  as  eligible,  or 
indeed  as  at  all  admissible  to  the  rights  and  pri\Tleges  of  Christian- 
ity. This  discription  of  character  we  have  defined  by  certain  and 
distinguishing  properdes,  which  not  only  serve  to  distinguish  it 
from  every  other  ;  but  in  which  all  the  real  subjects  themselves 
are  agreed,  without  one  exception  :  all  such  being  mutually  and 
reciprocally  acknowledged  by  each  other,  as  legitimate  members 
of  the  church  of  God.  All  these  moreover  agreeing  in  the  indis- 
pensable obligation  of  their  unity  ;  and  in  the  one  rule  by  which  it 
is  instructed — and  also  in  the  preceptive  necessity  of  an  entire  uni- 
formity in  their  public  profession  and  managements  for  prom.oting 
and  preserving  this  unity — that  there  should  be  no  schism  in  the 
body  ;  but  that  all  the  members  should  have  the  same  care  one  for 
another — yet  in  many  instances  unhappily,  and,  we  may  troly  sav, 
involuntarily  difFering  through  mistake  and  mismanagement  ;  which 
it  is  our  humble  desire  and  endeavour  to  detect  and  remove,  by 
obviating  every  thing  that  causeth  difference  ;  being  persauded  that 
as  truth  is  one  and  indivisable  wherever  it  exists  ;  so  all  the 
genuine  subjects  of  it,  if  disentangled  from  artificial  impediments, 
must  and  will  necessarily  fall  in  together,  be  all  on  one  side,  united 
in  one  profession,  acknowledge  each  other  as  brethren,  and  love  as 
children  of  the  same  family.  For  this  purpose  we  have  overtured 
a  certain  and  determinate  application  of  the  rule,  to  which  we  pre- 
sume there  can  be  no  reasonable  objection,  and  which,  if  adopted 
and  acted  upon,  must,  we  think,  infallibly  produce  the  desired 
effect ,  unless  we  should  suppose  that  to  say  and  do,  what  is  ex- 
pressly said  and  done  before  our  eyes  upon  the  sacred  page,  would 
offend  the  believer  ;  or  that  a  strict  uniformity,  and  entire  scriptural 
sameness  in  profession  and  practice,  v.ould  produce  divisions  and 
offences  amongst  those,  who  are  already  united  in  one  spirit,  one 
Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  hope  of  their  calling,  and  in  one 
God  and  father  of  all,  who  is  above  all,  and  through  all,  and  in 
them  all  ;  as  is  confessedly  the  case  with  all  of  this  character 
throughout  all  the  chiirches.     To  induce  to  this  we  have  also  at- 


51 


tempted  to  call  their  attention  to  tne  heinous  nature  and  awful 
consequences  of  schism,  and  to  that  evil  anti-scriptural  principle 
from  which  it  necessarily  proceeds.  We  have  likewise  endeavor- 
ed to  shew,  we  humbly  think  with  demonstrable  evidence,  that  there 
is  no  alternative,  but  either  to  adopt  that  scriptural  uniformity  we 
have  recommended,  or  else  continue  as  we  are,  bewildered  in 
schisms,  and  overwhelmed  with  the  accursed  evils  inseparable 
from  such  a  state.  It  remains  now  with  our  brethren  to  determine 
upon  the  whole  of  these  premises  ;  to  adopt,  or  to  reject,  as  they 
see  cause  ;  but,  in  the  mean  time,  let  none  impeach  us  with  the 
latitudinarian  expedient  of  substituting  a  vague  indefinite  approba- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  an  alternative  for  the  present  prac- 
tice of  making  the  approbation  of  human  standards  a  term  of 
communion  ;  as  it  is  undeniably  evident  that  nothing  can  be  farther 
from  our  intention.  Were  we  to  judge  of  what  we  humbly  propose 
and  urge  as  indispensibly  necessary  for  the  reformation  and  unity 
of  the  church,  we  should  rather  apprehend,  that  there  was  reason 
to  fear  a  charge  of  a  very  different  nature  ;  namely,  that  we  aimed 
at  to  much  strictness,  both  as  to  the  description  of  character  which 
we  say  ought  only  to  be  admitted,  and  also  as  to  the  use  and  appli- 
cation of  the  rule.  But  should  this  be  the  case,  we  shall  cheerfully 
bear  with  it  ;  as  being  fully  satisfied,  that  not  only  the  common 
sentiment  of  all  apparently  sincere,  intelligent  and  practical  chris- 
tians is  on  our  side  ;  but  that  also  the  plainest  and  most  ample 
testimonies  of  the  inspired  volume  sufficiently  attest  the  truth  and 
propriety  of  what  we  plead  for,  as  essential  to  the  scriptural  unity 
and  purity  of  the  christian  church  ;  and  this  we  humbly  presume 
is  what  we  should  incessantly  aim  at.  It  would  be  strange,  indeed, 
if  in  contending  earnestly  for  the  faith,  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
we  should  overlook  those  fruits  of  righteousness — that  manifest 
humility,  piety,  temperance,  justice  and  charity — without  which 
faith  itself  is  dead  being  alone.  We  trust  we  have  not  so  learned 
Christ  :  if  so  be,  we  have  been  taught  by  him,  as  the  truth  is  in 
Jesus,  wc  must  have  learned  a  very  different  lesson  indeed.  While 
we  would  therefore  insist  upon  an  entire  conformity  to  the  Scrip- 
tures in  profession,  that  we  might  all  believe  and  speak  the  same 
things,  and  thus  be  perfectly  joined  together  in  the  same  mind  and 
in  the  same  judgment ;  we  would,  with  equally  scrupulosity,  insist 
upon  and  look  for,  an  entire  conformity  to  them  in  practice,  in  all 
those  whom  we  acknowledge  as  our  brethren  in  Christ.  "By  their 
fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  "Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me. 
Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  :  but  he  that 
doeth  the  will  of  my  father  which  is  in  heaven.  Therefore  whoso- 
ever heareth  those  sayings  of  mine,  and  doeth  them  not,  shall  be 
likened  unto  a  foolish  man  which  built  his  house  upon  the  sand. 
Woe  unto  you  scribes  and  pharisees,  hypocrites,  for  ye  say  and  do 
not."  We  therefore  conclude,  that  to  advocate  unity  alone,  how- 
every  desirable  in  itself  without  at  the  same  time  purging  the 
church  of  apparently  unsanctified  characters — even  of  all  that  can- 


52 


not  shew  theii  faith  by  their  works,  would  be,  at  best,  but  a  poor, 
superficial,  skin-deep  reformation.  It  is  from  such  characters,  then, 
as  the  proposed  reformation,  if  carried  into  effect,  would  entirely 
deprive  of  a  name  and  a  place  in  the  church,  that  we  have  the 
greatest  reason  to  apprehend  a  determined  and  obstinate  opposition. 
And  alas!  there  are  very  many  of  this  descripdon  ;  and  in  many 
places,  of  considerable  influence — But  neither  should  this  discou- 
rage us,  when  we  consider  the  expressly  revealed  will  of  God  upon 
this  point,  Ezek.  44  6 — 9,  with  Matt.  13,  15 — 17,  I.  Cor.  5,  6 — 
13,  with  many  other  Scriptures.  Nor,  in  the  end,  will  the  muldtude 
of  unsanctified  professors,  which  the  proposed  reformadon  would 
necessarily  exclude,  have  any  reason  to  rejoice  in  the  unfaithfiilness 
of  those,  that  either  through  ignorance,  or  for  filthy  lucre  sake, 
indulged  them  with  a  name  and  place  in  the  church  of  God.  These 
unfaithfU  stewards — these  now  mistaken  friends,  will  one  day  be 
considered  by  such  as  their  most  cruel  and  treachsrous  enemies. 
These,  then,  are  our  sentiments,  upon  the  entire  subject  of  church 
reformadon  ;  call  it  latitudinarianism,  or  puritanism,  or  what  you 
please  :  and  this  is  the  reformation  for  which  we  plead.  Thus, 
upon  the  whole,  have  we  briefly  attempted  to  point  out  those  e\Tls, 
and  to  prevent  those  mistakes,  which  we  earnesdy  desire  to  see 
ob\iated  from  the  general  peace,  welfare,  and  prosperity  of  the  church 
of  God.  Our  dear  brethren,  gi^'ing  credit  to  our  sincere  and  well 
meant  intennons,  \^"iU  charitably  excuse  the  imperfections  of  our 
humble  performance  ;  and  by  the  assistance  of  their  better  judg- 
ment correct  those  mistakes,  and  supply  those  deficiencies,  which 
in  a  first  attempt  of  this  nature  may  have  escaped  our  notice,  ^  t 
are  sorr}-,  in  the  mean  time,  to  have  felt  a  necessity  of  approaching 
60  near,  the  borders  of  controversy,  by  briefly  attempting  to  answer 
objections  which  we  plainly  foresaw  would,  through  mistake  or 
prejudice,  be  made  against  our  proceedings  ;  controversy  making 
no  part  of  our  intended  plan.  But  such  objections  and  surmises 
ha^-ing  already  reached  our  ears  from  different  quarters,  we  thought 
it  necessary  to  attend  to  them  ;  that,  by  so  doing,  we  might  not 
only  prevent  mistakes,  but  also  save  our  friends  the  trouble  of 
entering  into  verbal  disputes  in  order  to  remove  them  ;  and  thus 
prevent,  as  much  as  possible,  that  most  unhappy  of  all  practices 
sanctioned  by  the  plausable  pretence  of  zeal  for  the  truth  ; — 
religious  controversy  amongst  professors.  We  would  there- 
fore humbly  advise  our  friends  to  concur  %vith  us  in  our  professed 
and  sincere  intention  to  avoid  this  evil  practice.  Let  it  suffice  to  put 
into  the  hands  of  such  as  desire  information  what  we  hereby  publish 
for  that  purpose.  E  this,  however,  should  not  satisfy,  let  them  give 
in  their  objection  in  \\Titing :  we  shall  thankfiilly  receive,  and 
seriously  consider,  with  all  due  attention,  whatever  comes  before  us 
in  this  way ;  but  verbal  controversy  we  absolutely  refiise.  Let 
none  imagine,  that  by  so  saying,  we  mean  to  dissuade  christians 
from  affording  all  the  assistance  they  can  to  each  other,  as  humble 
enquirers  after  the  truth.    To  decline  this  friendly  office  would  be  to 


53 


refuse  the  performance  of  an  important  duty.  But  certainly  there 
is  a  manifest  difference  between  speaking  the  truth  in  love  for  the 
edification  of  our  brethren  ;  and  attacking  each  other  with  a  spirit 
of  controversal  hostility,  to  confute  and  prove  each  other  wrong. 
We  believe  it  is  rare  to  find  one  instance  of  this  kind  of  arguing, 
that  does  not  terminate  in  bitterness.  Let  us  therefore  cautiously 
avoid  it.  Our  Lord  says.  Math.  18,  7,  woe  unto  the  world  because 
of  offenses.  Scott  in  his  incomparable  work  lately  published  in 
this  country,  called  his  Family  Bible,  observes  in  his  notes  upon 
this  place,  'that  our  Lord  here  intends  all  these  evils  within  the 

*  church,  which  prejudice  men's  minds  against  his  religion  or  any 

*  doctrine  of  it.      The  scandalous  lives,  horrible  oppressions,  cru- 

*  elties,  and  eniquities  of  men  called  christians  ;  their  divisions  and 

*  bloody  contentions  ;  their  idolatries  and  superstitions,   are,  at  this 

*  day,  the  great  offences  and  causes  of  stumbling,  to  Jews,  Mahome- 

*  tans,  and  Pagans,  in  all  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe  ;  and  they 

*  fiirnish  infidels   of  every  discription,  with   their  most  dangerous 

*  weapons  against  the  truth.     The  acrimonious  controversies,  agi- 

*  tated  amongst  those  who  agree  in  the  principle  doctrines  of  the 

*  gospel,  and  their  mutual  contempt  and    reviling  of    each  other, 

*  together  with  the  extravagant  notions  and  wicked  practices  found 
'  among  them,  form  the  grand  prejudice  in  the  minds  of  multitudes 

*  against  evangelical  religion  ;  and  harden  the  hearts  of  hereticks, 

*  pharisees,  disguised  infidels,  and  careless  sinners,  against  the 
«  truths  of  the  gospel.  In  these  and  numberless  other  ways,  it  may 
'  be  said,  "woe  be  to  the  world  because  of  ofi^enses  ;"  for  the  devil, 

*  the  sower  of  these  tares,  makes  use  of  them  in  deceiving  the  na- 

*  tions  of  the  earth,  and  in  murdering  the  souls  of  men.     In  the 

*  present  state  of  human  nature  it  must  needs  be,  that  such  offences 

*  should  intervene  ;  and   God  has  wise  and  righteous  reasons  for 

*  permitting  them  ;  yet  we  should  consider  it  as  the  greatest  of 

*  evils,  to  be  accessary  to  the  destruction  of  souls  ;  and  an  awful 

*  woe  is  denounced  against  every  one,  whose  delusions  or  crimes 

*  thus  stumble  men,  and  set  them  against  the  only  method  of  salva- 

*  tion."  We  conclude  with  an  extract  from  the  Boston  Anthology, 
which,  with  too  many  of  the  same  kind  that  might  be  adduced, 
furnish  a  mournful  comment  upon  the  text — we  mean,  upon  the 
sorrowful  subject  of  our  woeful  divisions  and  corruptions.  The  fol- 
lowing reply  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cram,  missionary  from  Massachusetts 
to  the  Senecas,  was  made  by  the  principle  chiefs  and  warriors  of 
the  six  nations  in  council  assembled  at  Buffalo  creek,  state  of  New- 
York,  in  the  presence  of  the  agent  of  the  United  States  for  Indian 
affairs,  in  the  summer  of  1805.  'I  am  come,  brethren,*  said  the 
missionary,  'to  enlighten  your  minds,  and  to  instruct  you  how  to 
'  worship  the  Great  Spirit,  agreeably  to  his  will  ;  and  to  preach  to 

*  you  the  gospel  of  his  son  Jesus  Christ.    There  is  but  one  way  to 

*  serve  God,  and  if  you  do  not  embrace  the  right  way  you  cannot  be 
'  happy  hereafter.'     To  which  they  reply,  'Brother  we  understand 

*  that  your  religion  is  written  in  a  book.     You  say  that  there  is  but 


54 


«  one  way  to  worship  and  serve  the  Great  Spirit.    If  there  be  but 

•  one  religion,   why  do  you  white  people  differ  so  much  about  it? 

•  Why  not  all  agree  as  you  can  all  read  the  book?    Brother,  we  do 

•  not  understand  these  things.     We  are  told  your  religion  was  given 

•  to  your  forefathers  ;  we  also  have  a  religion  which  was  given  to 

•  our  forefathers.    It  teaches  us  to  be  thankful  for  all  the  favors  we 

•  receive — to  love  one  another,  and  to  be  united.     We  never  quarrel 

•  about  religion.     We  are  told  you  have  been  preaching  to  the  white 

•  people  in  this  place.    Those  people  are  our  neighbors  ;  we  are 

•  acquainted  with  them.     We  will  wait  a  litde  to  see  what  effect 

•  your  preaching  has  upon  them.  If  we  find  it  does  them  good, 
«  makes  them  honest,   and  less  disposed  to  cheat  Indians  ;   we  will 

•  then  consider  again  of  what  you  have  said.'  Thus  closed  the 
conference!  Alas!  poor  people!  how  do  our  divisions  and  corrup- 
tions stand  in  your  way?  What  a  pity  that  you  find  us  not  upon 
original  groimd,  such  as  the  Apostles  left  the  primitive  churches? 
Had  we  but  exhibited  to  you  their  unity  and  charity  ;  their  humble, 
honest,  and  affectionate  deportment  towards  each  other  and  towards 
all  men  :  you  would  not  have  had  those  evil  and  shameful  things 
to  object  to  our  holy  religion,  and  to  prejudice  your  minds  against 
it.  But  your  conversion,  it  seems,  awaits  our  reformation — awaits 
our  return  to  primative  unity  and  love.  To  this  may  the  God  of 
mercy  speedily  restore  us,  both  for  your  sakes  and  our  own  ;  that 
his  way  may  be  known  upon  earth,  and  his  saving  health  among  all 
nations.  Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God  ;  let  all  the  people 
praise  thee.    Amen  and  amen. 


POSTSCRIPT. 

THE  publication  of  the  foregoing  address  has  been  delayed  much 
longer  than  was  at  first  expected,  through  an  unforseen  difficulty 
of  obtaining  paper  of  the  quality  intended.  This  difficulty  and  de- 
tention has  also  interfered  with  the  publication  of  the  discourse 
delivered  at  the  first  general  meeting  of  the  society,  held  in  Wash- 
ington, November  2d,  in  pursuance  of  the  7th  resolution  ;  (see 
page  4th)  which  discourse  the  committee  has  requested  Mr.  Camp- 
bell to  have  published,  as  soon  as  conveniency  may  serve  for  that 
purpose.  At  the  first  monthly  meeting  of  the  committee,  Decem- 
ber 14,  (see  resolution  6th,  page  4,)  the  following  considerations 
and  proposals  for  the  better  carrying  into  effect  the  highly  interest- 
ing and  comprehensive  object  of  the  foregoing  address,  were  sub- 
mitted and  received  with  approbation,  viz.  That  considering  the 
very  extensive  and  important  design  for  which  we  have  associated, 
as  specified  in  the  foregoing  pages  ;  wherein  we  propose  and  urge 


55 


the  nectllity  of  a  thorough  reformation  in  all  things  civil  and  reli- 
gious according  to  the  word  of  God,  as  a  duty  of  indispensible 
obligation  upon  all  the  highly  favored  subjects  of  the  gospel  ;  and 
especially  in  this  country,  where  the  Lord  has  been  graciously 
pleased  to  favor  his  professing  people  with  such  ample  opportuni- 
ties, for  the  prosecution  and  accomplishment  of  those  blessed  and 
desirable  purposes  ;  it  behoves  us,  in  so  doing,  to  exert  our  utmost 
energies,  in  every  possible  direction  that  may  conduce  to  render 
•uccessful,  this  arduous  and  important  undertaking. 

Besides  what  has  been  already  agreed  upon,  and  recommended 
in  the  foregoing  pages,  there  yet  remains  two  things  of  apparently 
great  importance  for  promoting  the  grand  object  of  our  association  ; 
which  this  committee  would  do  well  to  consider,  as  they  seem  to 
fall  within  the  prescribed  limits  of  its  operation ;  and  also  as  it 
appears  to  be  within  the  compass  of  its  power  to  take  effectual  steps 
for  ascertaining  the  advantages,  which  the  things  intended,  if  duly 
executed,  would  appear  obviously  calculated  to  produce.  The  first 
of  these  is  a  catechetical  exhibition  of  the  fulness  and  precision  of 
the  holy  scriptures  upon  the  entire  subject  of  Christianity — an  exhi- 
bition of  that  complete  system  of  faith  and  duty  expressly  contained 
in  the  sacred  oracles ;  respecting  the  doctrine,  worship,  discipline, 
and  government  of  the  christian  church.  The  second  thing  in- 
tended is  a  periodical  publication,  for  the  express  purpose  of  de- 
tecting and  exposing  the  various  anti-christian  enormities,  innova- 
tions and  corruptions,  which  infect  the  christian  church  ;  which 
counteract  and  oppose  the  benign  and  gracious  tendency  of  the 
gospel — the  promotion  and  establishment  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom upon  earth  ;  by  means  of  which  an  infinitely  good  and  gracious 
God  has  designed  to  bless  the  nations — to  ameliorate  as  much  as 
possible  the  present  wretched  and  suffering  state  of  mankind  ;  upon 
the  success  and  establishment  of  which  depends  the  spiritual  and 
temporal  welfare  of  every  individual  of  the  human  family.  What- 
ever therefore  has  a  tendency  to  undermine,  or  in  anywise  to  coun- 
teract and  oppose  the  interest  of  this  benign  and  gracious  institu- 
tion of  infinite  goodness  and  mercy,  becomes  an  evil  of  no  small 
magnitude,  how  triffling  soever  it  might  otherwise  appear.  "Take 
us  the  foxes,  the  little  foxes  that  spoil  our  vines  ;  for  our  vines  have 
tender  grapes."  Cant  z,  15.  Such  a  publication  from  the  nature 
and  design  of  it,  might  with  propriety  be  denominated  The  Christ- 
tian  Monitor. 

The  former  of  these,  namely,  a  catechetical  exhibition  of  the 
fulness  and  precision  of  the  sacred  scriptures  upon  the  entire  sub- 
ject of  faith  and  duty  would,  if  duly  executed,  demonstrably  evince 
their  perfect  sufficiency  independent  of  human  inference — of  the 
dictates  of  private  judgment ;  and  would,  at  the  same  time,  inevi- 
tably lead  the  professing  subject  to  learn  every  thing,  respecting  his 
faith  and  duty,  at  the  mouth  of  God,  without  any  reference  to  human 
authority — to  the  judgment  or  opinions  of  men.  This  would,  at 
once,  free  the  great  majority  of  professing  christians  from  that  per- 


56 


plexbg  uncertainty  and  implicit  faith  to  which  so  many  of  them 
are  unhappily  subjected,  by  the  interposition  of  human  definitions 
and  opinions  between  them  and  the  Bible  ;  many  of  which  are  er- 
roneous ;  and  also  many  of  which  they  are  unable  to  understand,  so 
as  to  determine  certainly,  whether  they  be  just  and  scriptural,  or  not. 
By  such  an  exhibition,  therefore,  would  professed  chriitians  be  de- 
livered, not  only  from  these  perplexing  and  dangerous  evils  ("there 
faith,"  by  this  means,  "no  longer  standing  in  the  wisdom  of  men, 
but  in  the  power  of  God  ;  not  in  the  words  which  man's  wisdom 
teacheth,  but  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth,")  but  they  would 
also  become  better  acquainted  with  the  scriptures  of  truth — with 
that  all-important  word  which  shall  judge  them  in  the  last  day  : — 
and  at  the  same  time,  would  come  to  possess  a  much  more  ample 
and  enlarged  view  of  the  alone  sufficiency  and  perfection  of  the 
scriptures  themselves  ;  advantages  these  of  no  small  moment  to 
the  interest  of  Christianity.  A  performance  of  this  nature  might 
with  apparent  propriety,  be  called  the  Christian  Catechism. 

In  consequence  of  these  considerations  it  is  proposed  and  intend- 
ed, with  the  approbation  and  under  the  patronage  of  the  Christian 
Association  of  Washington,  to  forward  as  fast  as  possible  the  pub- 
lication ot  the  works  above  described,  viz.  To  pubhsh  in  numbers 
monthly  by  subscription,  commencing  with  the  year  1 8 1  o — a  work 
entitled  the  Christian  Monitor,  each  number  to  consist  of  24  pages, 
stitched  in  blue,  price  I  2  cents,  type  and  paper  as  in  the  forego- 
ing address.  The  numbers  to  be  delivered  to  the  subscribers  at  the 
respective  places  appointed  for  distribution.  The  execution  of  this 
work  to  commence  as  soon  as  500  annual  subscribers  can  be  obtained. 
It  is  to  be  understood,  that  a  number  for  each  month  will  be  duly 
delivered  ;  though  it  is  probable  that  the  first  two  or  three  numbers 
may  come  together,  as  it  is  not  likely,  that  the  number  of  subscri- 
bers above  specified  can  be  obtained  in  time  to  commence  the  pub- 
lication in  the  month  of  January,  now  so  near  at  hand. 

Also  to  prepare  for  the  press  and  proceed  to  publish  as  soon  as  a 
competent  number  of  subscribers  can  be  obtained,  a  work  enrided 
the  Christian  Catechism,  to  consist  of  upwards  of  one  hundred 
pages,  type  and  paper  as  above,  price  50  cents.  There  will  be  pre- 
fixed to  this  work  a  dissertation  upon  the  perfection  ard  sufficiency 
of  the  holy  scriptures  ;  in  which  care  will  be  taken  to  detect  and 
expose,  that  unhappy  ingenuity,  which  has  been  so  frequentiy  ex- 
erted to  prevent  and  wrest  them,  from  the  obN^ous  purpose  for 
which  they  were  graciously  designed. 

ERRATA — Page  2,  line  5,  the  comma  point  should  be  after 
agreed,  and  not  after  upon. 

Do  line  7,  for  tided  read  designated. 
Page  7,  line  15,  for  spurious  read  specious. 
Pcge  18,  line  3,  for  grounds  read  ground. 
Page  29,  line  23,  for  preaching  read  practising. 
Page  32,  line  39,  for  would  read  could. 


INDIVIDUAL 

Daily  Worship  in  Every  Home. 
Each  One  Win  One. 

Two  Christian  Papers,  State  and  National,  in  Every  Home. 
Not  Less  than  my  Income's  Tithe  to  God. 
God  my  Benefactor  and  my  Heir. 

An  Offering  from  Every  Disciple  to  some  Christian  College. 

CONGREGATIONAL 

All  the  Church  and  as  Many  More  in  the  Bible  School. 
All  the  Church  in  the  Prayer  Meeting. 
Every  Church  Its  Mission. 
Every  Preacher  Preaching. 
Every  Preacher  his  Timothy. 

Every  Church  Well  Housed;  Every  Church  Debt  Paid. 
Every  Church  in  the  State  Co-operation. 

INSTITUTIONAL 

The  College  for  the  Church,  the  Church  for  the  College— Both  for 
Christ. 

The  American  Christian  Missionary  Society:  $250,000;  4,000  Con- 
tributing Churches;  1,000  Evangelists,  in  1909. 

The  Christian  Woman's  Board  of  Missions:  100,000  Members  in 
Auxiliaries  and  Circles;  $200,000  in  New  Stations. 

The  Foreign  Christian  Missionary  Society:  $400,000  in  1909; 
?250,000  for  Buildings  by  1909. 

A  Million  Dollars  in  the  Church  Extension  Fund. 

Relief  for  all  Disabled  Ministers;  Permanent  Fund  $100,000. 

The  Restoration  of  the  Apostolic  Ministry  of  Benevolence; 
$200,000  added  to  its  Permanent  Fund. 

GENERAL 

Ten  Thousand  Ministers. 

One  Hundred  Thousand  Full-Course  Teacher-Training  Graduates. 

First  Place  in  Christian  Endeavor. 

Fifty  Thousand  at  Pittsburg  in  1909. 

A  Million  and  a  Half  for  Missions  in  1909. 

Ten  Million  Dollars  Increase  in  Assets. 

The  Promotion  of  Christian  Union  by  its  Practice. 

Centennial  Committee,  203  Bissell  BlocK 
Pitisbvirgh.  Pa.,  U.  S.  A. 


Date  Due 

■A 



Record  Publishing  Company 
Coraopolis,  Pa. 

i 


PHOTOMOUNT 
PAMPHLET  BINDER 


Manufaclured  hy 
GAYLORD  BROS.  I«e. 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
Stockton,  Calif. 


